Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB3568 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 05/19/2022

                     
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) 
 
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE 
SUBSTITUTE FOR 
ENGROSSED HOUSE 
BILL NO. 3568 	By: McBride and Fetgatter of 
the House 
 
   and 
 
  Allen of the Senate 
 
 
 
 
 
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 
 
An Act relating to revenue and taxation; creating 
the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology 
Incentive Act; stating legislative findings ; 
defining term; creating the Oklahoma Emission 
Reduction Technology Rebate Program; providing 
rebate for certain documented expe nditures; 
requiring administration by the Department of 
Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Tax 
Commission; providing for eligibility; requiring 
the Department to approve or disapprove claims; 
limiting amount of rebate payments; prescribing 
procedures if certain limit or balance is 
exceeded; creating the Oklahoma Emission 
Reduction Technology Incentive Revolving Fund; 
stating sources of fund ; providing for 
expenditures from fund; providing for transfer of 
funds under certain circumstance; requiring the 
promulgation of rules; providing sunset of rebate 
program; amending 68 O.S. 2021, Section 1001, 
which relates to gross production tax; creating 
exemption for certain secondary recovery 
projects; limiting exemption under certain 
circumstances; defining terms ; providing 
procedure to qualify for exemption; creating 
exemption for certain projects; allowing a refund 
for certain projects; prescribing refund 
procedure; limiting eligibility for exemptions;   
 
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amending 68 O.S. 2021, Section 1001.3a, which 
relates to exemptions from gross production tax; 
modifying definitions; modifying exemption 
amounts; decreasing total amount of refunds; 
clarifying refund procedure; providing for 
codification; providing an effective date; and 
declaring an 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 Secti on 55006 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
Sections 1 through 7 of this act shall be known and may be cited 
as the "Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Incentive Act ". 
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 55007 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numberi ng, reads as follows: 
The Legislature hereby finds that the reduction of emissions 
from upstream and midstream oil and gas production, exploration, 
completions, gatherings, storage, processing, and transmission 
activities serves the interests of the citize ns of Oklahoma and such 
emission reduction activities with new and innovative technologies 
should be encouraged and incentivized. 
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 55008 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:   
 
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As used in the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Incentive 
Act, "Emission Reduction Project" means and includes, but is not 
limited to: 
1.  Existing and new technology projects that reduce emissions 
of regulated pollutants from stationary sources; and 
2.  Existing and new technology projects that reduce emissions 
from upstream and mi dstream oil and gas exploration, production, 
completions, gathering, storage, processing, and transmission 
activities through the following: 
a. the replacement, repair, or retrofit of stationary 
compressor engines, 
b. the installation of systems and /or equipment to reduce 
or eliminate the loss of gas, venti ng of gas, flaring 
of gas, or burning of gas using other combustion 
control devices, or 
c. the installation of emissions monitoring equipment or 
devices. 
SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new s ection of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statute s as Section 55009 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  Upon the effective date of t his act, there is hereby created 
the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Techn ology Rebate Program.  There is 
hereby created a rebate in the amount of up to twenty -five percent 
(25%) of documented expenditures made in this state directly   
 
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attributable to the implementation of a qual ified Emission Reduction 
Project. 
B.  The rebate program shall be administer ed by the Department 
of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Tax Commission, as 
provided in the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Incentive 
Act. 
C.  To be eligible for a rebate payment: 
1.  The applicant responsible for the implementation o f a 
qualified Emission Re duction Project in this state shall submit 
documentation to the Department of Environmental Quality no later 
than six (6) months after the end of the fisca l year in which the 
expenditures were made stating the amount of expen ditures made in 
this state directly related to the implementation of the qualified 
Emission Reduction Project; 
2.  The applicant has filed all Oklahoma tax returns and tax 
documents which are required by the laws of this state; and 
3.  The applicant shall provide evidence of a cer tificate of 
general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of One Million 
Dollars ($1,000,000.00) and a workers ' compensation policy pursuant 
to the laws of this state which shall include coverage of employer 's 
liability. 
D.  The Department of Enviro nmental Quality shall approve or 
disapprove all claims for a rebate payment and shall notify the 
Oklahoma Tax Commission.  The Tax Commission shall, upon   
 
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notification of approval from the Department of Environmental 
Quality, issue a rebate payment for all approved claims fro m funds 
in the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Incentive Revolving 
Fund created in Section 5 of this act.  Rebate payments from the 
fund shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000 .00) in any 
fiscal year.  If the amount of approved claims exce eds the amount 
specified in this subsection in a fiscal year, payments shall be 
made proportionately to all of the parties making a claim prior to 
the deadline which is approved by the Department of Environmental 
Quality with the amount to be paid to each approved party being 
product of the individual claim amount times the percentage 
resulting from Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) divided by the 
total amount of approved claims for the period.  If an approved 
claim is not paid in whole or in part, the u npaid claim or unpaid 
portion shall be paid in the following fiscal years in the order in 
which the claims are approved by the Department. 
E.  Approved claims for rebate that exceed the balance of the 
Oklahoma Emission Red uction Technology Incentive Revolv ing Fund 
created in Section 5 of this act may be paid in part and the unpaid 
portion shall be paid upon the fund reaching a sufficient balance in 
the order in which the claims are approved by the Department. 
SECTION 5.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 55010 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follo ws:   
 
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There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund 
for the Oklahoma Tax Commission to be designated the "Oklahoma 
Emission Reduction Technology Incentive Revo lving Fund".  The fund 
shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limi tations, 
and shall consist of all monies received by the Tax Commissio n from 
any public or private donat ions, contributions, and gifts received 
for the benefit of the fund an d any amounts appropriated by the 
Oklahoma Legislature designated for deposit in t he fund.  All monies 
accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appr opriated and may 
be budgeted and expended by the Tax Commission for the purpose of 
paying rebates as pro vided in this act.  Expenditures from the fund 
shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against 
claims filed as prescribed by law with t he Director of the Office of 
Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.  Any 
remaining unencumbered balance upon the cessation of the Oklahoma 
Emission Reduction Tech nology Rebate Program, as provided in Section 
7 of this act, shall be tr ansferred to the General Revenue Fund of 
the State of Oklahoma. 
SECTION 6.     NEW LAW    A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 55011 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
The Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Tax 
Commission shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the 
provisions of this act.   
 
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SECTION 7.    NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 55012 of Title 68, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
The Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program shall 
cease on July 1, 2027. 
SECTION 8.     AMENDATORY     68 O.S. 2021, S ection 1001, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 1001.  A.  There is hereby levied upon the production of 
asphalt, ores bearing lead, zinc, jack and copper a tax equal to 
three-fourths of one percent (3/4 of 1%) on the gross value thereof. 
B.  On or after the effective date of this ac t and except as 
provided by paragraph 4 of this subsection, there shall be levied a 
tax on the gross value of the production of oil and gas as follows: 
1.  Upon the production of oil a tax equal to seven percent (7%) 
of the gross value of the production of oil based on a per barrel 
measurement of forty -two (42) U.S. gallons of two hundred thirty -one 
(231) cubic inches per gallon, computed at a temperature of sixty 
(60) degrees Fahrenheit; 
2.  Upon the production of gas a tax equal to seven percent (7%) 
of the gross value of the production of gas; 
3.  Notwithstanding the levies in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this 
subsection, the production of oil, gas, or oil and gas from wells 
spudded prior to the effective date of this act, and on or after the 
effective date of this act, shall be taxed at a rate of five percent   
 
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(5%) commencing with the month of first production for a period of 
thirty-six (36) months.  Thereafter , the production shall be taxed 
as provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of thi s subsection; and 
4.  If the provisions of Article XIII -C of the Oklahoma 
Constitution are approved by the people pursuant to adoption of 
State Question No. 795, the rate of gross prod uction tax imposed by 
paragraph 3 of this subsection shall be reduced to two percent (2%) 
for the first thirty-six (36) months of production and thereafter 
the rate of taxation shall be seven percent (7%). 
C.  The taxes hereby levied shall also attach to, and are levied 
on, what is known as the royalty interest, and the amount of such 
tax shall be a lien on such interest. 
D.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, for 
secondary and tertiary recovery projects approved or having an 
initial project start date on or after July 1, 2022, all production 
which results from s uch secondary and tertiary recovery projects 
shall be exempt from the gross production tax levied pursuant to 
this section for a period not to exceed five (5) years from the 
initial project start date or for a period ending upon the 
termination of the seco ndary and tertiary recovery process, 
whichever occurs first . 
2.  For purposes of this subsection , "project start date" means 
the date on which the injection of liquids, gases, or other matter 
begins on an enhanced recovery project .   
 
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3.  For new secondary and tertiary recovery projects approved by 
the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on or after July 1, 2022, such 
approval shall constitute qualification for an exemption . 
4.  For all production exempted pursuant to this subsection, a 
refund against gross production taxes sha ll be issued as provided in 
subsection F of this section . 
E.  Except as otherwise provided by this section, the production 
of oil, gas, or oil and gas from wells drilled but not completed as 
of July 1, 2021, which are completed w ith the use of recycled wat er 
on or after July 1, 2022, shall earn an exemption from the gross 
production tax levied from the date of first sales for a period of 
twenty-four (24) months.  The exemption provided in this subsection 
shall be proportional to th e percentage of the total amount of water 
used to complete the well that is recycled water.  For all 
production exempted pursuant to this subsection, a refund against 
gross production taxes shall be issued as provided in subsection F 
of this section. For purposes of this subsectio n, "recycled water" 
means oil and gas produced water and waste that has been 
reconditioned or treated by mechanical or chemical processes into a 
reusable form. 
F.  On or after July 1, 2022, for all oil and gas production 
exempt from gross production taxes pursuant to subsections D and E 
of this section during a given fiscal year, a refund of gross 
production taxes shall be issued to the well operator or a designee   
 
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in the amount of such exempted gross production taxes paid during 
such period, subject to the following provisions: 
1.  A refund shall not be claimed until after the end of the 
fiscal year.  As used in this subsection, a fiscal year shall be 
deemed to begin on Jul y 1 of one calendar year and shall end on June 
30 of the subsequent calendar year; 
2.  Unless otherwise specified, no claims for refunds pursuant 
to the provisions of this subsection shall be filed more than 
eighteen (18) months after the first day of the fiscal year in which 
the refund is first available; 
3.  Any person claiming a refund pursuant to the exemption 
provided in subsections D and E of this section shall file an 
application with the Tax Commission which, upon determination of 
qualification by the Corporation Commission, shall approve the 
application for such exemption; 
4.  The Tax Commission may require any person claiming a refund 
pursuant to the exemption s provided in subsections D and E of this 
section to furnish information or records concer ning the exemption 
as is deemed necessary by the Tax Commission ; 
5.  No claims for refu nds pursuant to the provisions of this 
subsection shall be filed by or on behalf of persons other than the 
operator or a working interest owner of record at the time of 
production;   
 
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6.  No entity, including subsidiaries of the enti ty, shall be 
authorized to receive refunds claimed pursuant to the exemption 
provided in subsection D of this section that exceed twenty percent 
(20%) of the limitation provided in paragraph 7 of this subsection; 
and 
7.  The total amount of refunds authorized shall not exceed 
Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) pursuant to the exemption 
provided in subsection D of this section and Ten Million Dollars 
($10,000,000.00) pursuant to the exemption provided in subsection E 
of this section for any fiscal year.  I f the amount of claims for 
refunds exceed the limits provided in this paragraph, the Tax 
Commission shall determine the percentage of the refund which 
establishes the proportionate share of t he refund which may be 
claimed by any taxpayer so that the maximum amounts authorized by 
this paragraph are not exceeded. 
G.  On or after July 1, 2022, all persons shall only be entitled 
to either the exemption granted pursuant to subsection D or E of 
this section for each oil, gas, or oil and gas well drilled or 
recompleted in this state.  H owever, any person who qualifies for 
the exemption granted pursuant to subsection E of this section shall 
not be prohibited from qualification for the exemption granted 
pursuant to subsection D of this section if the exemption granted 
pursuant to subsectio n E of this section has expired.   
 
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H. The Tax Commission shall have the power to require any such 
person engaged in mining or the production or the purchase of such 
asphalt, mineral ores aforesaid, oil, or gas, or the owner of any 
royalty interest therein t o furnish any additional information by it 
deemed to be necessary for the purpose of correctly computing the 
amount of the tax; and to examine the books, records and fi les of 
such person; and shall have power to conduct hearings and c ompel the 
attendance of witnesses, and the production of books, records and 
papers of any person. 
E. I. Any person or any member of any firm or association, or 
any officer, official, agent or employee of any corporation who 
shall fail or refuse to testify ; or who shall fail or refuse to 
produce any books, records or papers which the Tax Commission shall 
require; or who shall fail or refuse to furnish any other evidence 
or information which t he Tax Commission may require; or who shall 
fail or refuse to answ er any competent quest ions which may be put to 
him or her by the Tax Commission, touching the business, property, 
assets or effects of any such person relating to the gross 
production tax imposed by this article or exemption authorized 
pursuant to this sec tion or other laws, sh all be guilty of a 
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a 
fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or 
imprisonment in the jail o f the county where such offense shall have 
been committed, for not more than one (1) yea r, or by both such fine   
 
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and imprisonment; and each day of such refusal on the part of such 
person shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. 
F. J.  The Tax Commission shall have the power and authority to 
ascertain and determin e whether or not any r eport herein required to 
be filed with it is a true and correct report of the gross products, 
and of the value thereof, of such person engaged in the mining or 
production or purchase of asphalt and ores bearing minerals 
aforesaid and of oil and gas.  If an y person has made an untrue or 
incorrect report of the gross production or value or volume thereof, 
or shall have failed or refused to make such report, the Tax 
Commission shall, under the rules prescribed by it, ascertain the 
correct amount of either, and compute the tax. 
G. K.  The payment of the taxes herein levied shall be in full, 
and in lieu of all taxes by the state, counties, cities, towns, 
school districts and o ther municipalities upon any property rights 
attached to or inhere nt in the right to the minerals, upon producing 
leases for the mining of asphalt and ores bearing lead, zinc, jack 
or copper, or for oil, or for gas, upon the mineral rights and 
privileges for the minerals aforesaid belonging or appertaining to 
land, upon the machinery, applian ces and equipment used in and 
around any well producing oil, or gas, or any mine producing asphalt 
or any of the mineral ores aforesaid and actually used in the 
operation of such well or mine.  The payment of gross production tax 
shall also be in lieu of a ll taxes upon the oil, gas, asphalt or   
 
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ores bearing minerals hereinbefore mentioned during the tax year in 
which the same is produced, and upon any investment in any of the 
leases, rights, privileges, minerals or other property descri bed 
herein.  Any interest in the land, other than that herein 
enumerated, and oil in storage, asphalt and ores bearing minerals 
hereinbefore named, mined, produced and on hand at the date as of 
which property is assessed for general and ad valorem taxation for 
any subsequent tax year, shall be assessed and taxed as other 
property within the taxing district in which such property is 
situated at the time. 
H. L.  No equipment, material or proper ty shall be exempt from 
the payment of ad valorem tax by reason of the payment of the gr oss 
production tax except such equipment, machinery, tools, material or 
property as is actually necessary and being used and in use in the 
production of asphalt or of o res bearing lead, zinc, jack or copper 
or of oil or gas.  Provided , the exemption shall include the 
wellbore and non-recoverable down-hole material, including casing, 
actually used in the disposal of waste materials produced with such 
oil or gas.  It is ex pressly declared that no ice plants, hospitals, 
office buildings, garages, residences, g asoline extraction or 
absorption plants, water systems, fuel systems, rooming houses and 
other buildings, nor any equipment or material used in connection 
therewith, shall be exempt from ad valorem tax.   
 
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SECTION 9.    AMENDATORY     68 O. S. 2021, Section 1001.3a, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 1001.3a  A.  As used in this section: 
1.  Prior to January 1, 2015, "economically at-risk oil or gas 
lease" means any oil or gas lease operated at a net loss or at a net 
profit which is less than the total gross production tax remitted 
for such lease during the previous calendar year; 
2.  On or after January 1, 2015 , and before January 1, 2022 , 
"economically at-risk oil or gas lease" means any oil or gas lease 
with one or more producing wells with an average production volume 
per well of ten (10) barrels of oil or sixty (60) MCF of natural gas 
per day or less operated at a net loss or at a net profit which i s 
less than the total gross production tax remitted for such lease 
during the previous c alendar year; and 
3.  For calendar year 2022 and subsequent calendar years, 
"economically at-risk oil or gas lease " means any oil or gas lease 
with one or more producin g wells with an average production volume 
per well of ten (10) barr els of oil or sixty ( 60) MCF or less of 
natural gas per day operated at a net loss or at a net profit which 
is less than the total gross production tax remitted for such lease 
during the previous calendar year, and any oil lease operating while 
the gross value of the productio n of oil is less than Fifty Dollars 
($50.00), on an average monthly basis, based on a per-barrel 
measurement of forty -two (42) U.S. gallons of two hundred thirty -one   
 
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(231) cubic inches per gallon, computed at a temperature of sixty 
(60) degrees Fahrenheit or gas lease operating while the gross value 
of the production of gas is less than Three Dollars and fifty cents 
($3.50), on an average monthly basis, based on a measur ement of one 
million (1,000,000) British thermal units (MMBtu); and 
4. "Lease" shall be defined as in Section 1001.2 of this title. 
B.  When certified as such pursuant to the provisions of this 
section, production from an economically at -risk oil or gas lease 
shall be eligible for an exemption from the gross production t ax 
levied pursuant to subsection B of Section 1001 of this title for 
production on such lease during the previous calendar year in the 
following amounts: 
1.  If the gross production tax rat e levied pursuant to 
subsection B of Section 1001 of this title was seven percent (7%), 
then the exemption shall equal six-sevenths (6/7) of the gross 
production tax levied; and 
2.  If the gross production tax rate levied pursuant to 
subsection B of Sectio n 1001 of this title was four percent (4%) 
five percent (5%), then the exemption shall e qual three-fourths 
(3/4) four-fifths (4/5) of the gross production tax levied ; and 
3.  If the gross production tax rate levied pursuant to 
subsection B of Section 1001 of this title was one percent (1%) or 
two percent (2%), no exemptio n shall apply.   
 
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C.  For all production exempt from gross production taxes 
pursuant to this section, a refund of gross production taxes paid 
for production in the previous calendar year in th e amounts 
specified in subsection B of this section, subject to the 
limitations and prov isions specified in subsections D and J of this 
section, shall be issued to the well operator or a designee.  For 
production in calendar years ending on or before Decem ber 31, 2015, 
the refund shall not be claimed until after July 1 of the year 
following the year of production.  For production in the calendar 
year ending December 31, 2016, the refund shall be claimed before 
July 1, 2017.  The Tax Commission shall not acc ept or pay any claim 
for refund filed on or after July 1, 2017. 
D.  For oil and natural gas produced from qualifying leases in 
calendar years 2015 and 2016, the total amount of refunds authorized 
in this section for each calendar year shall not exceed Twel ve 
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,500,000.00) for all 
products combined.  For oil and natural gas produced from qualifying 
leases in calendar year 2022 and subsequent calendar years , the 
total amount of refunds authorized in this section for ea ch calendar 
year shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) for all 
products combined.  If the amount of claims exceeds Twelve Million 
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,500,000.00) the limits provided 
in this subsection, the Tax Commission shal l determine the 
percentage of the refund which establishes the propo rtionate share   
 
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of the refund which may be claimed by any taxpayer so that the 
maximum amount authorized by this subsection is not exceeded. 
E.  Any operator making application for an econo mically at-risk 
oil or gas lease status under the provisions of this section shall 
submit documentation to the Tax Commission, as determined by the Tax 
Commission to be appropriate and necessary. 
F.  For the purposes of this section, determination of the 
economically at-risk oil or gas lease status shall be made by 
subtracting from the gross revenue of that lease for the previous 
calendar year severance taxes, if any, royalty, operating expenses 
of the lease to include expendable workover and recompletion c osts 
for the previous calendar year, and including overhead costs up to 
the maximum overhead percentage allowed by the Council of Petroleum 
Accountants Societies (COPAS) guidelines.  For the purposes of this 
calculation, depreciation, depletion or intangib le drilling costs 
shall not be included as lease operating expenses. 
G.  The Tax Commission shall have sole authority to determine if 
an oil or gas lease qualifies for certification as an economically 
at-risk oil or gas lease.  The Tax Commission shall pro mulgate rules 
governing the certification process. 
H.  Except as provided in subsection I of this section, gross 
production tax exemptions under the provisions of this section shall 
be limited to production from calendar years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 2005 through 2013 and 2022 and   
 
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subsequent calendar years; provided, no claims for refunds for 
calendar years provided in this subsection 2013 and before shall be 
paid on or after December 31, 2015. 
I.  Gross production tax exempt ions claimed under the provisions 
of this section shall be limited t o production from calendar years 
2014, 2015 and 2016; provided, no claims for refunds for the 
calendar years 2014 and 2015 shall be claimed or paid more than 
eighteen (18) months after the first day of the fiscal year during 
which the refund is first avail able.  For production in calendar 
year 2016, no claim for refund filed on or after July 1, 2017, shall 
be claimed or paid. 
J.  Claims for refunds pursuant to the provisions of this 
section for production periods ending on or before December 31, 
2016, shall be paid pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.  
The claims for refunds referenced herein shall be paid in equal 
payments over a period of thirty -six (36) months.  The first paymen t 
shall be made after July 1, 2018, but prior to August 1, 2018.  Th e 
Tax Commission shall provide, not later than June 30, 2018, to the 
operator or designated interest owner, a schedule of rebates to be 
paid out over the thirty -six-month period. 
K.  Claims for refunds pursuant to the provisions of this 
section for production periods beginning and ending on or after 
calendar year 2022 shall be paid in the form of a one -time payment. 
SECTION 10.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2022.   
 
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SECTION 11.  It being immediately necessary for the pr eservation 
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. 
 
58-2-11603 AQH 05/18/22