Oklahoma Workforce Commission Makes History
Real and meaningful change is coming to Oklahoma’s workforce development system! Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 621 during a June 14th ceremony hosted by The State Chamber of Oklahoma at the AAR Aircraft Services hangar at Will Rogers World Airport. Stitt, State Chamber President & CEO Chad Warmington and SB 621 authors Sen. Adam […]
Recap: State of Unionization Legal Lunchbox
Adam Childers, president and CEO at Crowe & Dunlevy, headlined the Legal Center’s Legal Lunch Box series, discussing employee and employer rights when it comes to the National Labor Relations Act and unionization efforts in Oklahoma. If you were not able to attend the lunchbox, no worries, we’ve got you covered. Watch it below. View […]
Oklahoma’s Missed Opportunity on Tax Reform
When it comes to tax reform, standing still means falling behind. As other states take advantage of their flush budget pictures to race toward pro-growth, economically competitive tax reform, Oklahoma’s legislature failed to advance significant tax reform during the regular legislative session, which just concluded. When we started this legislative session, hopes for meaningful tax […]
Oklahoma Workforce Commission Bill Back in Motion
After a brief conference committee detour, the bill that creates an Oklahoma Workforce Commission is back on track. Senate Bill 621 returned to the Oklahoma Senate and was approved with a 34-10 vote on Wednesday. The bill, written by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, is a key piece in the comprehensive […]
Legal Lunch Box: Severance Agreements
Nathan L. Whatley is our special guest for the Legal Lunch Box on May 15. Whatley, a shareholder and practice group leader for McAfee & Taft, will discuss a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling on severance agreements between employers and employees, and how that ruling will impact Oklahoma businesses. Register
Bill Aims to Simplify Income Tax in Oklahoma
You’ve crunched the numbers and rounded up the receipts. The deadline to file those pesky income taxes has arrived. Oklahoma’s income tax is unnecessarily complicated. Because of our graduated, six-bracket income tax, each segment of your income is taxed at a different rate. Calculating the total amount owed requires a multi-step math problem or a […]
RIED Updates Legislative Session Analysis
The Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED) updated analysis of legislation being considered this session. RIED is concerned about bills that impact economic growth, scoring legislator votes at the end of session. RIED added a bill that is anti-growth, HB 1590. The bill imposes a long-term 50-cent per phone line fee for 911 operations as […]
Childcare: Why Businesses Should Care
There’s a childcare shortage in Oklahoma, and it’s pulling parents out of the workforce. It’s an issue across the country, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and United WE both doing research on its impact to workforce. Much of Oklahoma is a childcare desert. More than half of Oklahomans do not have close access […]
Tax Reform Bills Expected to Lift Oklahoma Into Top 10
Three tax reform ideas proposed by the State Chamber Research Foundation are making big waves in the Oklahoma State Legislature, and will lift the Sooner State into the top 10 of the State Business Tax Climate Index if signed into law, according to Tax Foundation analyst Janelle Fritts. Each bill tackles tax reform on a […]
Oklahoma’s Franchise Tax Needs to Go
When you hear that Oklahoma has a “franchise tax,” you could be forgiven for thinking it is a tax levied on franchises, such as fast-food restaurants. In reality, the franchise tax is actually far worse for economic growth than that. Now that you are dreaming of hamburgers and French fries, let us tell you what […]