Oklahoma House Bill HB4199

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/8/22
• Refer: 2/28/22

Caption

Public lands; Commissioners of the Land Office; investment manager; effective date.

Impact

The enactment of HB 4199 is intended to strengthen the investment process by establishing a formal investment committee tasked with recommending managers and crafting investment policies. It sets strict standards for investments, including limitations on the proportion of equity securities and real property investments within the trust funds. Additionally, the law requires annual and quarterly reports regarding investment performance, enhancing oversight and transparency. These provisions aim to provide greater financial stability for educational institutions funded through these means.

Summary

House Bill 4199 revises regulations related to the management and investment strategies of the permanent school funds and other educational funds in Oklahoma. The bill specifically amends 64 O.S. 2021, Section 1013, detailing how the Commissioners of the Land Office are to select investment managers and set transparent guidelines for fund management. This change aims to enhance the efficacy and accountability in managing educational funds, emphasizing maximizing benefits for current and future beneficiaries while minimizing investment risks through diversification.

Contention

While the bill's intention is generally seen as positive, there may be concerns about the limitations it places on investment options, particularly with the caps on real property investments and the restriction against bidding against private-sector entities above appraised values. Some stakeholders might argue that these provisions could stifle opportunities for more aggressive investment strategies which could yield higher returns for the educational funds. Furthermore, the bill's approach to fund management may lead to debates regarding the best balance between risk and return, as well as how much control to give to investment managers under the new guidelines.