Legislative update: March 30 - April 5

House lawmakers have reached the halfway point of the 2006 legislative session, but much work remains.

Representatives are nearing the end of the five weeks of committee work on the 547 Senate bills and joint resolutions that were sent to the House by the Senate, and have until April 27 to vote on legislation that has been approved by committee.

The full Oklahoma House has passed a baseline general appropriations measure -- establishing a foundation of $6.039 billion to guarantee state government continues to operate as details of a final state budget are worked out during the rest of the legislative session.

The measure also meets the statutory "education first" deadline. The general appropriations budget established in Senate Bill 1262 provides an efficient level for state government in fiscal year 2007, according to the House Appropriations and Budget chairman.

The proposal includes record levels of education funding, including the second phase of a plan to teacher pay raises to the regional average. SB 1262 also includes a $10 million appropriation to meet the needs of OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program).

Oklahoma retirees could soon have a bigger tax exemption under legislation recently approved in committee. Senate Bill 2016 would expand the state income tax exemption on retirement income to include $25,000 if filing single and $50,000 if married filing jointly, starting in the 2007 tax year.

Legislation providing a special tax deduction for individuals who care for the elderly passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a unanimous vote.

Senate Bill 1646 would allow a $3,400 tax deduction for individuals who provide more than half of the financial support of an elderly relative. The deduction will go into effect January 1, 2007 if it becomes law.

The bill requires the caregiver to have lived a minimum of six months out of the year with the relative. The bill only applies to individuals earning less than $35,000 per year and to families earning $50,000 or less. Also, to qualify the relative must be 70 years or older.

Senate Bill 1941, which would exempt all Oklahoma schools from paying fuel tax for maintenance vehicles, passed the House without dissent. Legislators were told that some school districts spend more than $20,000 a year fueling maintenance vehicles.

Recently proposed rules from the Oklahoma Lottery Commission may not be in line with the intent of the Legislature to provide timely and transparent information to the public.

House Joint Resolutions 1069 and 1070 would amend those rules to require the commission to report the total number of tickets sold and the number of prizes awarded in instant and online lottery games within 30 days following the time period in which prizes can be claimed.

The commission would also be required to post the information on their Web site.

The rules were adopted by the commission on February 21 and submitted to the governor's office and the Legislature on March 2.

Both HJR 1069 and HJR 1070 passed unanimously on the House floor and now move to the Senate for consideration.