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ENGR. S. B. NO. 1696 Page 1
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ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1696 By: Coleman of the Senate
and
Caldwell (Trey) of the
House
[ state government - Revolving Fund - deposit -
procedures - Program - requirements - eligibility
requirements - report - codification - effective
date -
emergency ]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5013.4 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to be designated the
“Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Revolving Fund”. The
fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year
limitations, and shall consist of all monies designated to the fund
by law. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby
appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Department for
the purpose of implementing and administering the Oklahoma Talent
Attraction and Relocation Program, including the awarding and
administration of grants, program evaluation, and related
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administrative costs. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon
warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as
prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 7020 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce the Oklahoma Talent Attraction and Relocation Program, to
be administered by the Department for the purpose of awarding grants
to support talent recruitment programs that motivate households to
relocate to Oklahoma from outside the state.
B. As used in this section:
1. “Eligible applicant” means:
a. a municipality with a population of fewer than one
hundred fifty thousand (150,000) persons according to
the most recent Federal Decennial Census,
b. a county with a population of fewer than five hundred
thousand (500,000) persons according to the most
recent Federal Decennial Census, or
c. a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose includes
economic development, workforce development, or
community development;
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2. “Household” means a group of one or more individuals who
live together within the same dwelling; and
3. “Household goals” means the total number of households that
a talent recruitment program seeks to successfully incentivize to
relocate or commit to relocate from outside this state to a
municipality in this state.
C. Subject to availability of funds, the Department may award
grants to eligible applicants for the administration of talent
recruitment programs and for costs associated with providing
incentives for households to relocate from outside this state to
establish residency within this state. No more than Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) in grant funds may be awarded
to a single eligible applicant in a single fiscal year. No single
grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall exceed Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00).
D. To the extent funds are available, the Department shall
disburse fifty percent (50%) of the total grant amount upon
execution of a grant contract and fifty percent (50%) of the total
grant amount upon verification that the recipient has successfully
met at least one-half (1/2) of the household goal stated in the
approved talent recruitment program plan. If the recipient fails to
meet at least one-half (1/2) of its stated household goal, the
remaining portion of the grant shall not be disbursed.
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E. To be considered for a grant, an eligible applicant shall
submit to the Department a written talent recruitment program plan
that includes:
1. The total estimated cost of the program and the estimated
costs associated with program design, administration, marketing, and
relocation incentive initiatives;
2. The household goal and the estimated total grant amount per
household;
3. The estimated state and local tax impact;
4. The estimated total economic impact; and
5. Evidence that the proposed incentives do not duplicate
existing state or local relocation programs serving the same
households or geographic area.
F. The applicant shall demonstrate the ability to contribute at
least twenty percent (20%) of the total cost of the talent
recruitment program, which may include local investments and in-kind
donations. An applicant that has previously received a grant under
this section shall not be eligible for an additional grant unless
the applicant has met or exceeded the household goal stated in its
prior approved talent recruitment program plan.
G. If a recipient fails to meet its household goal by the end
of the program period, or if after notice and hearing the Department
determines grant funds were used for unauthorized purposes or
obtained through material misrepresentation of fact, the Department
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may require repayment of all or part of the grant disbursed, plus
interest at the rate provided in Section 2375 of Title 68 of the
Oklahoma Statutes. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce Board shall
promulgate rules for repayment procedures pursuant to the
Administrative Procedures Act.
H. Each recipient of a grant under this section shall provide
semiannual reports to the Department that include:
1. The total number of household applications;
2. The total number of approved households;
3. The cost per approved household;
4. The annual incomes and occupations of approved households,
reported in aggregate form;
5. The economic impact of the talent recruitment program,
including state and local tax revenue and new consumer spending, to
the extent such information can be reasonably estimated;
6. Certification by a certified public accountant or other
independent third party acceptable to the Department verifying
household relocations through documentation including lease
agreements, utility service transfers, or employment records; and
7. If total grant funds exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000.00), a financial audit of program expenditures.
I. A household shall be eligible to receive incentives under a
talent recruitment program funded pursuant to this section if:
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1. The household resides outside this state at the time the
household applies for incentives;
2. The household has an individual household income of at least
Fifty-five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00); and
3. The household submits an application to a grant recipient
for incentives under the talent recruitment program.
J. Beginning two (2) years after the effective date of this
act, and every two (2) years thereafter, the Department shall submit
an electronic report to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the
Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives evaluating:
1. The total grants awarded versus verified household
relocations;
2. Actual versus projected state and local tax revenue
generated;
3. Cost per verified household; and
4. Net economic impact.
K. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce shall promulgate rules
as necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this
section pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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Passed the Senate the 12th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives