Req. No. 8795 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 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 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) HOUSE BILL 3458 By: Moore AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to revenue and taxation; amending 68 O.S. 2021, Section 205, as amended by Section 9, Chapter 344, O.S.L. 2022 (68 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 205), which relates to confidential information and the Oklahoma Tax Commission ; modifying provisions related to confidential information; authorizing release of certain information to district attorneys and to the Attorney General; authorizing release of information to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority; and declaring an eme rgency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 205, as amended by Section 9, Chapter 354 , O.S.L. 2022 (68 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 205), is amended to read as follows: Section 205. A. The records and files of the Oklahom a Tax Commission concerning the administration of the Uniform Tax Procedure Code or of any state tax law shall be considered confidential and privileged, except as otherwi se provided for by law, and neither the Tax Commission nor any employee engaged in th e administration of the Tax Commission or charged with the custody of Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 any such records or files n or any person who may have secured information from the Tax Commissi on shall disclose any information obtained from the records or files or from any examinatio n or inspection of the premises or property of any person. B. Except as provided in paragraph 26 of subsection C of this section, neither the Tax Commission nor any emplo yee engaged in the administration of the Tax Commission or charged with the custody o f any such records or files shall be required by any court of this state to produce any of the re cords or files for the inspection of any person or for use in any ac tion or proceeding, except when the records or files or the facts shown thereby are directl y involved in an action or proceeding pursuant to the provisions of the Uniform Tax Procedure Code or of the state tax law, or when the determination of the action or proc eeding will affect the validit y or the amount of the claim of the state pursuant to a ny state tax law, or when the information contained in the records or files constitutes evidence of violation of the provisions of the Uniform Tax Procedure Code or of any state tax law. C. The provisions of this section shall not prevent the Tax Commission, or with respect to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in administration of the Oklahoma Rura l Jobs Act as provided by paragraph 22 of this subsection, from disclosing the following information and no liability whatsoever, civil or criminal, shall attach to any member of the Tax Commission, or the Oklahoma Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Department of Commerce as applicable, or any employee thereof for any error or omission in the disclosure of such information: 1. The delivery to a taxpayer or a duly authorized representative of the taxpayer of a copy of any report or any other paper filed by the taxp ayer pursuant to the provis ions of the Uniform Tax Procedure Code or of any state tax law; 2. The exchange of information that is not protected by the federal Privacy Protection A ct, 42 U.S.C., Section 2000aa et seq., pursuant to reciprocal agreements ent ered into by the Tax Commis sion and other state agencies or agencies of the federal government; 3. The publication of statisti cs so classified as to prevent the identification of a particular report and the items thereof; 4. The examination of records an d files by the State Audito r and Inspector or the duly authorized agents of the State Auditor and Inspector; 5. The disclosing of information or evidence to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Attorney General, Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics a nd Dangerous Drugs Control, any district attorney or agent of any federal law enforcement agenc y when the information or evidence is to be used by such officials to investigate or prosecute violations of the criminal provisions of the Uniform Tax Procedure Code or of any state tax l aw or of any federal crime committed against this state . Any information disclosed to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Attorney Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 General, Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, any district att orney or agent of any feder al law enforcement agency shall be kept confidential by such person and not be disclosed except when presented to a court in a prosecution for violation of the tax laws of this state or except as specifically authorized by law, a nd a violation by the Oklah oma State Bureau of Investigation, Attorney General, Oklahoma State Bureau o f Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, district attorney or agent of any federal law enforcement agency by otherwise releasing the information shall be a felony; 6. The use by any division of the Tax Commission of any information or evidence in the possession of or contained in any report or return filed with any other divisi on of the Tax Commission; 7. The furnishing, at the discretion of the Tax Comm ission, of any information disclosed by its records or files to any official person or body of this sta te, any other state, the United States or foreign country who is concerne d with the administration or assessment of any similar tax in this state, any ot her state or the United States. The provisions of this paragraph shall include the furnishing of information by the Tax Commission to a county assessor to determine the amount of gross household income pursuant to the provisions of Section 8C of Article X of the Oklahoma Constituti on or Section 2890 of this title. The Tax Commission shall promulgate Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 rules to give guidance to the county assessors regarding the type of information which may be used by the county assessors in determining the amount of gross household income pursuant t o Section 8C of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution or Section 28 90 of this title. The provisions of this paragraph shall also include the furnishing of information to the State Treasurer for the purpose of administration of the Uniform Unclaimed Prope rty Act; 8. The furnishing of information to other state agencies for the limited purpose of aiding in the collection of debts owed by individuals to such requesting agencies; 9. The furnishing of information requested by any m ember of the general public and stated in the sworn lists or schedules of taxable property of public service corporations organized, existing, or doing business in this state w hich are submitted to and certified by the State Board of Equalization pursuant to the provisions of Section 2858 of this title and Section 21 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitutio n, provided such information would be a public record if filed pursuant t o Sections 2838 and 2839 of this title on behalf of a corporation other than a p ublic service corporation; 10. The furnishing of information requested by any member of the general public and stated in the findings of the Tax Commission as to the adjustment and equalization of the valuation of real and personal property of the countie s of the state, which are s ubmitted to and certified by the State Board of Equalization pursuant to the Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 provisions of Section 2865 of this title and Section 21 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution; 11. The furnishing of information as to the issuance or revocation of any tax p ermit, license or exemption by the Tax Commission as provided for by law. Such information shall be limited to the name of the person issued the permit, license or exemption, the name of the business entity authorized to engage in business pursuant to the permit, license or exemption, the address of the business entity and the grounds for revocation; 12. The posting of notice of revocation of any tax permit or license upon the premises of the place of business of any business entity which has had any tax permit or license revoked by the Tax Commission as provided for by l aw. Such notice shall be limited to the name of the person issued the permit or license, the na me of the business entity authorized to engage in business pursua nt to the permit or license, the address of the business entity and the grounds for revocation; 13. The furnishing of information upon written request by any member of the general public as to the outstanding and unpaid amount due and owing by any taxpaye r of this state for any del inquent tax, together with penalty and interest, for which a tax war rant or a certificate of indebtedness has been filed pursuant to law; 14. After the filing of a tax warrant pursuant to law, the furnishing of information upon written request by any memb er of the Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 general public as to any agreement entered into by the Tax Commission concerning a compromise of tax liability for an amount less than the amount of tax liability stated on such warrant; 15. The disclosure of informati on necessary to complete th e performance of any contract authorized by this title to any person with whom the Tax Commission has contracted; 16. The disclosure of information to any person for a purpose as authorized by the taxpayer pursuant to a waiver o f confidentiality. The waiver shall be in writing and shall be made upon such form as the Tax Commissi on may prescribe; 17. The disclosure of information required in order to c omply with the provisions of Section 2369 of this title; 18. The disclosure to an employer, as defined i n Sections 2385.1 and 2385.3 of this title, of information required in order to collect the tax imposed by Section 2385.2 of this title; 19. The disclosure to a plaintiff of a corporation's last-known address shown on the record s of the Franchise Tax Divi sion of the Tax Commission in order for such plaintiff to comply with the requirements of Section 2004 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 20. The disclosure of information directly involved in the resolution of the protest by a taxpayer to an assessmen t of tax or additional tax or the resolution of a claim for refund f iled by a taxpayer, including the disclosure of the pendency of an administrative proceeding involving such protest or claim, to a Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 person called by the Tax Commi ssion as an expert witness or as a witness whose area of knowledge or expertise specifically addresses the issue addressed in the protest or claim for refund. Such disclosure to a witness shall be limited to information pertaining to the specific knowledg e of that witness as to the transaction or relationship between taxpayer and witness; 21. The disclosure of information necessary to implement an agreement authorized by Section 2702 of this title when such information is directly involved in the resoluti on of issues arising out of the enforcement of a municipal sales tax ordinance. Such disclosure shall be to the governing body or to the municipal attorney, if so designated by the governing body; 22. The furnishing of information regarding incentive pay ments made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3601 through 3609 of this title, incentive payments made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3501 through 3508 of this title, or tax credits claimed pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1 through 8 of this act; 23. The furnishing to a prospective purchaser of any business, or his or her authorized representative, of information relating to any liabilities, delinquencies, as sessments or warrants of the prospective seller of the business which have not been filed of record, established or become final and which relate solely to the seller's business. Any disclosure under this paragraph shall on ly be allowed upon the presentm ent by the prospective buyer, or the Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 buyer's authorized represe ntative, of the purchase contract and a written authorization between the parties; 24. The furnishing of information as to the amount of state revenue affected by the issuance or granting of any tax permit, license, exemption, deduction, credit or oth er tax preference by the Tax Commission as provid ed for by law. Such information shall be limited to the type of permit, license, exemption, deduction, credit or other tax preference issued o r granted, the date and duration of such permit, license, exempt ion, deduction, credit or other tax preference and the amount of such revenue. The provisions of this paragraph shall not authorize the disclosure of the name of the person issued such permit , license, exemption, deduction, credit or other tax preference, or the name of the business entity authorized to engage in business pursuant to the permit, license, exemption , deduction, credit or other tax preference; 25. The examination of records and files of a person or entity by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, district attorney or the Attorney General pursuant to a court order by a magistrate in whose territorial jurisdiction t he person or entity resides, or wh ere the Tax Commission records and files are physically located. Such an order may only be issued upon a sworn application by an agent of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control or the Attorney General, certifying that the person or entity whose records and files are to Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 be examined is the target of an ongoing investigation of a felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act and that information res ulting from such an examination would likely be relevant to that investigation. Any records or information o btained pursuant to such an order may only be used by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, district attorney or the Attorney General in the investigation and p rosecution of a felony violation of the Uniform Cont rolled Dangerous Substances Act or money laundering pursuant to Secti on 2001 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Any such order issued pursuant to this paragraph, along with the underlying application, shall be sealed and not disclosed to the person or entity whose r ecords were examined, for a period of ninety (90) days . The issuing magistrate may grant extensions of such period upon a showing of goo d cause in furtherance of the investigation. Upon the expiration of nin ety (90) days and any extensions granted by the magistrate, a copy of the application and order shall be served upo n the person or entity whose records were examined, alo ng with a copy of the records or information actually provided by the Tax Commission; 26. The disclosure of information, as prescrib ed by this paragraph, which is related to the proposed or actual usa ge of tax credits pursuant to Section 2357.7 of this title, the Small Business Capital Formation Incentive Act or the Rural Venture Capit al Formation Incentive Act. Unless the context cle arly requires Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 otherwise, the terms used in this paragraph shall have the same meaning as defined by Section 2357.7, 2357.61 or 2357.72 of this title. The disclosure of information authorized by this parag raph shall include: a. the legal name of any qualif ied venture capital company, qualified small business capital compan y or qualified rural small business capital company, b. the identity or legal name of any person or entity that is a shareholder or partner of a qualified venture capital company, qualifie d small business capital company or qualified rural small business capital company, c. the identity or legal name of any Ok lahoma business venture, Oklahoma small business venture or Oklahoma rural small business venture in which a qualified investment has been made by a capital company, or d. the amount of funds invested in a qualified venture capital company, the amount of qualified investments in a qualified small business capital company or qualified rural small business capital company and the amount of investments made by a qualified venture capital company, qualified small business capital company, or qualified rural sma ll business capital company; Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 27. The disclosure of specific information as required by Section 46 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statut es; 28. The disclosure of specific information as required by Section 205.5 of this title; 29. The disclosure of specific information a s required by Section 205.6 of this title; 30. The disclosure of information to the State Treasurer necessary to implement Section 2368.27 of this title; 31. The disclosure of specific information to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for purposes of determining eligibili ty for current or potential recipients of assistance from the Oklahoma Medicaid Program; or 32. The disclosure of information to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs including but not limited to the name and basis for eligibility of each individual who qualifies for the sales tax exemption authorized in paragraph 34 of Section 1357 of this title ; or 33. The disclosure of information to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority for the purposes of compliance with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act or Section 420 et s eq. of Title 63 of the Ok lahoma Statutes. D. The Tax Commission shall cause to be prepared and made available for public inspection in the office of the Tax Commission in such manner as it may det ermine an annual list containing the Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 name and post office address of each person, whether individual, corporate or otherwise, making and filing an income tax return with the Tax Commission. It is specifically provided that no liability whatsoever, civil or criminal, shall attach to any member of the Tax Commission or any employee thereof for any error o r omission of any name or address in the preparation and publication o f the list. E. The Tax Commission shall prepare or cause to be prepared a report on all provisions of state tax law that reduce state revenue through exclusions, deductions, credits, exemption s, deferrals or other preferential tax treatments . The report shall be prepared not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year and shall be submitted to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Repr esentatives. The Tax Commission may prepare and submit supplements t o the report at other times of the year if additional or updated information relevant to the report becomes available. The report shall include, for the previou s fiscal year, the Tax Commission 's best estimate of the amount of state revenue that would hav e been collected but for the existence of each such exclusion, deduction, credit, exempt ion, deferral or other preferential tax treatment allowed by law . The Tax Commission may request the assistance of other state agencies as may be needed to prepare the report. The Tax Commission is authorized to require any recipient of a tax incentive o r tax expenditure to report to the Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Tax Commission such information as req uested so that the Tax Commission may fulfill its obligations as required by this subsection. The Tax Commission may require this information to be submitted in an electronic format . The Tax Commission may disallow any claim of a person for a tax incenti ve due to its failure to f ile a report as required under the authority of this subsection. F. It is further provided that the provisions of this section shall be strictly interpreted and shall not be construed as permitting the disclosure of any other inf ormation contained in the records and files of the Tax Commission relating to income tax or to any other taxes. G. Unless otherwise provided for in this section, any violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by the impositio n of a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by im prisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and the offender shall be removed or dismissed from office. H. Offenses described in Section 2376 of this title shall be reported to the appropria te district attorney of this state by the Tax Commission as soon as the offenses are discov ered by the Tax Commission or its agents or employees. The Tax Commission shall make available to the appropriate district attorney or to the authorized agent of th e district attorney its records and files Req. No. 8795 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 pertinent to prosecutions, and such records and f iles shall be fully admissible as evidence for the purpose of such prosec utions. SECTION 2. 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 a nd after its passage and approval. 59-2-8795 MAH 12/28/23