Req. No. 7110 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) HOUSE BILL 2732 By: Menz AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to revenue and taxation; amending 68 O.S. 2021, Section 1357, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 206, O.S.L. 2022 (68 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 1357), which relates to sales tax exemptions; modifying exemption related to certain veterans; providing for exempt treatment for certain persons eligible for dependent and indemnity compensation benefits pursuant to provisions of United States Code; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE P EOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 1357, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 206, O.S.L. 2022 (68 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 1357), is amended to read as follows: Section 1357. Exemptions – General. There are hereby specifically exempted fr om the tax levied by the Oklahoma Sales Tax Code: 1. Transportation of school pupi ls to and from elementary schools or high schools in motor or other vehicles; Req. No. 7110 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Transportation of persons where the fare of each person does not exceed One Dollar ($1.00), or local transportatio n of persons within the corporate limits of a municipality e xcept by taxicabs; 3. Sales for resale to persons engaged in the bu siness of reselling the articles purchased, whether within or without the state, provided that such sales to residents of this s tate are made to persons to whom sales tax permits have been issued as provided in the Oklahoma Sales Tax Code. This exemption shall not apply to the sales of articles made to persons holding permits when such persons purchase items for their use and whic h they are not regularly engaged in the business of resellin g; neither shall this exemption apply to sales of tangible personal property to peddlers, solicitors and other salespersons who do not have an established place of business and a sales tax permit. The exemption provided by this paragraph shall apply to sa les of motor fuel or diesel fuel to a Group Five vendor, but the use of such motor fuel or diesel fuel by the Group Five vendor shall not be exempt from the tax levied by th e Oklahoma Sales Tax Co de. The purchase of motor fuel or diesel fuel is exempt from sales tax when the motor fuel is for shipment outside this state and consumed by a common carrier by rail in the conduct of its business. The sales tax shall apply to the purchase of motor fuel or diesel fuel in Oklahoma by a common carrier by rail when such motor fuel is purchased for fueling, within this state, of any locomotive or other motorized flanged wheel equipment; Req. No. 7110 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. Sales of advertising space in newspapers and periodicals; 5. Sales of programs relating to s porting and entertainment events, and sales of advertising on billboards (including signage, posters, panels, marquees or on other similar surfaces, whether indoors or outdoors) or in programs relating to spo rting and entertainment events, and sales of any advertising, to be displayed at or in connection with a sporting event, via the Internet, electronic display devices or through public address or broadcast systems. The exemption authorized by this paragrap h shall be effective for all sales made on or af ter January 1, 2001; 6. Sales of any advertising, other than the advertising described by paragraph 5 of this section, via the Internet, electronic display devices or through the electronic media including radio, public address o r broadcast systems, tel evision (whether through closed circuit broadcasting systems or otherwise), and cable and satellite television, and the servicing of any advertising devices; 7. Eggs, feed, supplies, machinery , and equipment purchased by persons regularly engaged in the business of raising worms, fish, any insect, or any other form of terrestrial or aquatic animal life and used for the purpose of raising same for marketing. This exemption shall only be granted and extended to the purchaser when the items are to be used a nd in fact are used in the raising of animal life as set out above. Each purchaser shall certify, in Req. No. 7110 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 writing, on the invoice or sales ticket retained by the vendor that the purchaser is regularly engaged in th e business of raising s uch animal life and that the items purchased will be used on ly in such business. The vendor shall certify to the Oklahoma Tax Co mmission that the price of the items has been reduced to grant the full benefit of the exemption. Viola tion hereof by the purc haser or vendor shall be a misdemeanor; 8. Sale of natural or artificial gas and electricity, and associated delivery or transmi ssion services, when sold exclusively for residential use. Provided, this exemption shall not apply to any sales tax levied by a city or town, or a county or any other jurisdiction in this state; 9. In addition to the exemptions authorized by Section 135 7.6 of this title, sales of drugs sold pursuant to a prescription written for the treatment of human bei ngs by a person license d to prescribe the drugs, and sales of insulin and medical oxygen. Provided, this exemption shall not apply to over-the-counter drugs; 10. Transfers of title or possession of empty, partially filled, or filled returnable oil and ch emical drums to any per son who is not regularly engaged in the business of sellin g, reselling or otherwise transferring empty, partially filled or filled returnable oil drums; Req. No. 7110 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 11. Sales of one-way utensils, paper napkins, paper cups, disposable hot contai ners, and other one-way carry out materials to a vendor of meals or beverages; 12. Sales of food or food products for home consumption which are purchased in whole or in part with coupons issued pursuant to the federal food stamp program as authorized by Sections 2011 through 2029 of Title 7 of the United States Code, as to that portion purchased with such coupons. The exemption provided for such sales shall be inapplicable to such sales upon the effective date of any federal law that removes the requirem ent of the exemption as a condition for participation by the state in the federal food stamp program; 13. Sales of food or food products, or any equ ipment or supplies used in the preparation of the food or food products to or by an organization which: a. is exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3), and which provid es and delivers prepared meals for home consumption to elderly or homebound persons as part of a program commonly known as "Meals on Wheels" or "Mobile Meals", or b. is exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal R evenue Code, 26 Req. No. 7110 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3), and which receives federal funding pursuant to the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, for the purpose of providing nutrition programs for the care and benefit of elderly persons; 14. a. Sales of tangible pe rsonal property or services to or by organizations which are exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions o f Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C ., Section 501(c)(3), and: (1) are primarily involved in the collection and distribution of food and other household products to other organizations that facilitate the distribution of such products to the needy and such distributee organizations are exemp t from taxation pursuant to the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3), or (2) facilitate the distribution of such products to the needy. b. Sales made in the course of business for profit or savings, competing with other persons engaged in the same or similar business shall not be exempt under this paragraph; Req. No. 7110 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 15. Sales of tangible personal property or services to children's homes which are located on church-owned property and are operated by organization s exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3); 16. Sales of computers, data processing equipment, related peripherals, and telephone, telegraph or telecommun ications service and equipment for use in a qualified aircraft maintenance or manufacturing facility. For purposes of this paragraph, "qualified aircraft maintenance or manufacturing facility" means a new or expanding facility prima rily engaged in aircraf t repair, building or rebuilding whether or not on a factory basis, whose total cost of construction exceeds the sum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) and which employs at least two hundred fifty (250) new full -time- equivalent employees, as certified by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, upon completion of the facility. In order to qualify for the exemption provided for by this paragraph, the cost of the items purchased by the qualified aircraft maintenance or manufacturing facility shall e qual or exceed the sum of Two Millio n Dollars ($2,000,000.00); 17. Sales of tangible personal property consumed or incorporated in the construction or expansion of a qualified aircraft maintenance or manufacturing facility as define d in paragraph 16 of this section. For purposes of this pa ragraph, sales Req. No. 7110 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 made to a contractor or subcontractor that has previously entered into a contractual relationship with a qualified aircraft maintenance or manufacturing facility for construction or expansion of such a facility shall be considered sales made to a qualified aircraft maintenance or manufacturing facility; 18. Sales of the following telecommunications services: a. Interstate and International "800 service". "800 service" means a "telecommunications service " that allows a caller to dial a toll-free number without incurring a charge for the call. The service is typically marketed under the name "800", "855", "866", "877" and "888" toll-free calling, and any subsequent numbers designated by the Federal Communic ations Commission, b. Interstate and International "900 service". "900 service" means an inbound toll "telecommunications service" purchased by a subscriber that allows the subscriber's customers to call in to the subscriber 's prerecorded announcement or live service. "900 service" does not include the charge for: collection services provided by the seller of the "telecommunications services" to the subscriber, or service or product sold by the subscriber to the subscriber's customer. The service is t ypically Req. No. 7110 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 marketed under the na me "900" service, and any subsequent numbers designated by the Federal Communications Commission, c. Interstate and International "private communications service". "Private communications service " means a "telecommunications service" that entitles the customer to exclusive or priority use of a communications channel or group of channels between or among termination points, regardless of the manner in which such channel or channels are connected, and includes switching capacity , extension lines, stations and any other associated services that are provided in connection with the use of such channel or channels, d. "Value-added nonvoice data service". "Value-added nonvoice data service " means a service that otherwise meets the definition of "telecommunications services" in which computer processing applications are used to act on the form, content, code or protocol of the information or data primarily for a purpose other than transmission, conveyance , or routing, e. Interstate and International telecommunications service which is: (1) rendered by a company for private use within its organization, or Req. No. 7110 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (2) used, allocated or distributed by a company to its affiliated group, f. Regulatory assessments and charges including charges to fund the Oklahoma Universal Service Fund, the Oklahoma Lifeline Fund and the Oklahoma High Cost Fund, and g. Telecommunications nonre curring charges including but not limited to the installation, connection, change , or initiation of telecommunications se rvices which are not associated with a retail consumer sale; 19. Sales of railroad track spikes manufactured and sold for use in this state in the construction or repair of railroad tracks, switches, sidings, and turnouts; 20. Sales of aircraft and aircraft parts provided such sales occur at a qualified aircraft ma intenance facility. As used in this paragraph, "qualified aircraft maint enance facility" means a facility operated by an air common carrier including one or more component overhaul support buildings or structures in an area owned, leased, or controlled by the air common carrier, at which there were employed at least two thousa nd (2,000) full-time-equivalent employees in the preceding year as certified by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and which is primarily related to the fabrication, repair, alteration, modification, refurbishing, maintenance, building, or rebuilding of commercial aircraft or Req. No. 7110 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 aircraft parts used in air common carriage. For purposes of this paragraph, "air common carrier" shall also include members of an affiliated group as d efined by Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 15 04. Beginning July 1, 2012, sales of machinery, tools, supplies, equipment , and related tangible p ersonal property and services used or consumed in the repair, remodeling, or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft engines or aircraft component parts which occur at a qualified aircraft maintenance facility; 21. Sales of machinery and equipment purchased and used by persons and establishments primarily engaged in computer services and data processing: a. as defined under Industrial Group Numbers 7372 and 7373 of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual, latest version, which derive at least fifty percent (50%) of their annual gross revenues from the sale of a product or service t o an out-of-state buyer or consumer, and b. as defined under Industrial Gr oup Number 7374 of the SIC Manual, latest version, which derive at least eighty percent (80%) of th eir annual gross revenues from the sale of a product or service to an out-of- state buyer or consumer. Eligibility for the exemption set out in this paragraph shall be established, subject to review by the Tax Commission, by annually Req. No. 7110 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 filing an affidavit wit h the Tax Commission stating that the facility so qualifies and such information as required by the Tax Commission. For purposes of determining whether annu al gross revenues are derived from sales to out-of-state buyers or consumers, all sales to the fede ral government shall be considered to be to an out-of-state buyer or consumer; 22. Sales of prosthetic devices to an individual for use by such individual. For purposes of this paragraph, "prosthetic device" shall have the same meaning as provided in Sec tion 1357.6 of this title, but shall not include corrective eye glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids; 23. Sales of tangible personal property or service s to a motion picture or television production company to be used or consumed in connection with an eligible production. For purposes of this paragraph, "eligible production" means a documentary, special, music video or a television commercial or televisi on program that will serve as a pilot for or be a segment of an ongoing dramatic or situation comedy series filmed or taped for network or national or regional syndication or a featu re-length motion picture intended for theatrical release or for network or national or regional syndication or broadcast. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to sales occurring on or after July 1, 1996. In order to qualify for the exemption, the motion picture or television production company shall file any documentat ion and information Req. No. 7110 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 required to be submitted pursuant to rules promulgated by the Tax Commission; 24. Sales of diesel fuel sold for consumption by commercial vessels, barges and oth er commercial watercraft; 25. Sales of tangible personal property or serv ices to tax- exempt independent nonprofit biomedical research foundations that provide educational p rograms for Oklahoma science students and teachers and to tax-exempt independent no nprofit community blood banks headquartered in this state; 26. Effective May 6, 1992, sales of wireless telecommunications equipment to a vendor who subsequently transfers the equipment at no charge or for a discounted charge to a consumer as part of a promotional package or as an inducement to commence or continue a contract for wireless telecommunications services; 27. Effective January 1, 1991, leases of rail transportat ion cars to haul coal to coal-fired plants located in this state which generate electric power; 28. Beginning July 1, 2005, sales of aircraft engine repairs , modification, and replacement parts, sales of aircraft frame repairs and modification, aircraft i nterior modification, and paint, and sales of services employed in the repair, modi fication, and replacement of parts of aircraft engines, aircraft frame and interior repair and modification, and paint; Req. No. 7110 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 29. Sales of materials and supplies to the owner or operator of a ship, motor vessel, or barge that is used in interstate or international commerce if the materials and supplies: a. are loaded on the ship, mot or vessel, or barge and used in the maintenance and operation of the ship, motor vessel, or barge, or b. enter into and become component parts of the ship, motor vessel, or barge; 30. Sales of tangible personal property made at estate sales at which such property is offered for sale on the premises of the former residence of the decedent by a person wh o is not required to be licensed pursuant to the Transient Merchant Licensing Act, or who is not otherwise required to obtain a sales tax permit for the sale of such property pursuant to the provisions of Section 1364 of this title; provided: a. such sale or event may not be held for a period exceeding three (3) consecutive days, b. the sale must be conducted within six (6) months of the date of death of the d ecedent, and c. the exemption allowed by this paragraph shall not be allowed for property that was not part of the decedent's estate; 31. Beginning January 1, 2004, sales of electri city and associated delivery and transmission services, when sold exclusiv ely Req. No. 7110 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 for use by an oil and gas operator for reservoir dewatering projects and associated operations commencing on or after July 1, 2003, in which the initial water-to-oil ratio is greater than or equal to five-to-one water-to-oil, and such oil and gas devel opment projects have been classified by the Corporation Commission as a reservoir dewatering unit; 32. Sales of prewritten computer software that is delivered electronically. For p urposes of this paragraph, "delivered electronically" means delivered to t he purchaser by means other than tangible storage media; 33. Sales of modular dwelling units whe n built at a production facility and moved in whole or in parts, to be assembled on -site, and permanently affixed to the real property and used for residential or commercial purposes. The exemption provided by this paragraph shall equal forty -five percent (45%) of the total sales price of the modular dwelling unit. For purposes of this p aragraph, "modular dwelling unit" means a structure that is not subject to the motor vehicle excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 2103 of this title; 34. Sales of tangible personal property or services to: a. persons who are residents of Oklahoma and ha ve been honorably discharged from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or Oklahoma National Guard and who have been certified by the Req. No. 7110 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 United States Department of Ve terans Affairs or its successor to be in receipt of disabili ty compensation at the one-hundred-percent rate and the disability shall be permanent and have been sustained through military action or accident or resulting from disea se contracted while in such active service and registered with the veterans registry cr eated by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that if th e veteran received the sales tax exemption prior to November 1, 2020, he or she shall be requir ed to register with the vet erans registry prior to July 1, 2023, in order to remain qua lified, or b. the surviving spouse of the person in subparagraph a of this paragraph if the person is deceased and the spouse has not remarried and the surviving spouse of a person who is determined by the United States Department of Defense or any branch of the United States military to have died while in the line of duty if the spouse has not remarried, or c. any surviving spouse or surviving child who is eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation pursuant to Sections 1301 through 1323 of Title 38 of the United States Code . Req. No. 7110 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Sales for the benefit of an eligible person listed in subparagraph a, b or c of this paragraph to a spouse of the eligible person or to a member of the household in which the eligible person resid es and who is authorized to make purchases on the person's behalf, when such eligible person is not present at the sale, shall also be exempt for purposes of this paragraph. T he Oklahoma Tax Commission shall issue a separate exemption card to a spouse of an eligible person or to a member of the household in which the eligible person resides who is authorized to make purchases on the person's behalf, if requested by the eligible person. Sales qualifying f or the exemption authorized by this paragraph shall not exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per year per individual while the disabled veteran is living. Sales qualifying for the exemption authorized by this paragr aph shall not exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per year for an unremarried eligible surviving spouse or child. Upon request of the Tax Commission, a person asserting or cla iming the exemption authorized by this paragraph shall provide a statement, executed under oat h, that the total sales amounts for which the exemption is applicable have not exceeded Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per year per living disabled vet eran or One Thousand Dollars Req. No. 7110 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ($1,000.00) per year for an unremarried eligible surviving spouse or child. If the amount of such exempt sales exceeds such amount, the sales tax in excess of the authorized amount shall be treated as a direct sales tax liability and may be recovered by the Tax Commission in the same manner provided by law for oth er taxes including penalty and interest. The Tax Commission shall promulgate any rules necessary to i mplement the provisions of this paragraph, which shall include rules providing for the disclosure of information about pers ons eligible for the exemption authorized in this par agraph to the Oklahoma Department of Veteran's Affairs, as authorized in Section 205 of this title; 35. Sales of electricity to the operator, specifically designated by the Corporation Commission, of a spacing unit or lease from which oil is produced or attempted to be produced usin g enhanced recovery methods including, but not lim ited to, increased pressure in a producing formation through the use of water or saltwater if the electrical usage is associa ted with and necessary for the operation of equipme nt required to inject or circ ulate fluids in a producing formation for the purpo se of forcing oil or petroleum into a wellbore for eventual recovery and production from the wellhead. In order to be eligib le for the sales tax exempti on authorized by this p aragraph, the total content o f oil recovered Req. No. 7110 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 after the use of enhanced recovery methods shall not exceed one percent (1%) by volume. The exemption authorized by this paragraph shall be applicable only to the state sales tax rate and shall not be applicable to any county or municipal sales tax rate; 36. Sales of intrastate charter a nd tour bus transportation. As used in this paragraph, "intrastate charter and tour bus transportation" means the transportat ion of persons from one location in this state to another location in this state in a motor vehicle which has been constructed in such a manner that it may lawfully carry more than eighteen persons, and which is ordinarily used or rented to carry persons f or compensation. Provid ed, this exemption shall not apply to regularly schedule d bus transportation for the general public; 37. Sales of vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements by a licensed chiropractor to a person who is the patient of such chiropractor at the physical loc ation where the chiropra ctor provides chiropractic care or services to such patient. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be applicable to any drug, medicine, or substance for which a prescription by a licensed physician is required; 38. Sales of goods, wares, merchandis e, tangible personal property, machinery, and equipment to a web search portal loca ted in this state which derives at least eighty percent (80%) of its annual gross revenue from the sale of a product or servi ce to an out-of- Req. No. 7110 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 state buyer or consumer. For pu rposes of this paragraph, "web search portal" means an establishment classified und er NAICS code 519130 which operates websites that use a search engine to generate and maintain extensive databases of Interne t addresses and content in an easily searchable format; 39. Sales of tangible p ersonal property consumed or incorporated in the c onstruction or expansion of a facility for a corporation organized under Section 437 et seq. of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes as a rural electric coo perative. For purpo ses of this paragraph, sales made to a contractor or subcontractor that has previously entered into a contractual relationship with a rural electric cooperative for construction or expansion of a facility shall be considered sales made to a rural electric cooperative; 40. Sales of tangib le personal property or services to a business primarily engaged in the repair of consumer electronic goods including, but not limited to, cell phones, compact disc players, personal computers, MP3 pla yers, digital devices for the storage and retrieval of information through hard -wired or wireless computer or Internet connections, if the devices are sold to the business by the original manufacturer of such devices and the devices are repaired, refitted or refurbished for sa le by the entity qualifying for the exemption authorized by this paragraph directly to retail consumers or if the devices are sold to another business entity for sale to retail consumers; Req. No. 7110 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 41. On or after July 1, 2019, and prior to Ju ly 1, 2024, sales or leases of rolling stock when sold o r leased by the manufacturer, regardless of whether the purchaser is a public services corporation engaged in business as a common carrier of property or passengers by railway, for use or consumption by a common carrier directly in the rendition of public service. For purposes of this paragraph, "rolling stock" means locomotives, autocars, and railroad cars and "sales or leases" includes railroad car maintenance and retrofittin g of railroad cars for th eir further use only on the railways; and 42. Sales of gold, silver, platinum, palladium or other bull ion items such as coins and bars and legal tender of any nation, which legal tender is sold according to its value as precious m etal or as an investment. As used in the paragraph, "bullion" means any precious metal including, but not limited to, gold, sil ver, platinum, and palladium, that is in such a state or condition that its value depends upon its precious metal content and no t its form. The exemption authorized by this paragraph shall not apply to fabricated metals that have been processed or manufact ured for artistic use or as jewelry. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby Req. No. 7110 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 declared to exist, by reason where of this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 59-1-7110 MAH 01/08/23