Req. No. 605 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 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) SENATE BILL 718 By: Daniels AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board; amending 68 O.S. 2021, Section 2357.7, which relates to credit against tax for investments in qualified venture capital companies; updating statutory language; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Sections 85.42 and 3601.1, as last amended by Section 36, Chapter 29, O.S.L. 2023 (74 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3601.1), which relate to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act and the State Employment Review Board; conforming language; updating statutory language; updating statutory reference; repealing 74 O.S. 2021, Sections 5085.1 through 5085.16, which relate to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 2357.7, is amended to read as follows: Section 2357.7. A. For taxable years beginning aft er December 31, 1986, and before January 1, 2009, there shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by Section 2355 of this title or Section 624 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes for investments in qualified venture capital companies whose purpose is to establish or expand the development of business and industry within Oklahoma. Req. No. 605 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 Provided, tax credits against liabilities imposed pursuant to Section 624 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall be limited to the amount that would otherwise be coll ected and allocated to the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury. B. For purposes of this section: 1. “Qualified venture capital company ” means a C corporation, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, incorporated pursuant to th e laws of Oklahoma or a registered business partnership with a certificate of partnership filed as required by law if such corporation or partnership is organized to provide the direct investment of debt and equity funds to companies within this state, wit h its principal place of business located within this state and which meets th e following criteria: a. capitalization of not less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), b. having a purpose and objective of investing at least seventy-five percent (75%) of its capitalization in Oklahoma business ventures. The temporary investment of funds by a qualified venture capital company in obligations of the United States, state and municipal bonds, bank certificates of deposit, or money market securities pending investment in Oklahoma business ventures is hereby authorized, and Req. No. 605 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 c. investment of not more than ten percent (10%) of its funds in any one company; 2. “Oklahoma business venture ” means a business, incorporated or unincorporated, which: a. has or will have, within one hundred eighty (180) days after an investment is made by a qualified venture capital company, at least fifty percent (50%) of its employees or assets located in Oklahoma, b. needs financial assistance in order to commence or expand such business which provides or intends to provide goods or services, c. is not engaged in oil and gas exploration, real estate development, real estate sales, retail sales of food or clothing, farming, ranching, banking, or lending or investing funds in other busin esses. Provided, however, businesses which provide or intend to provide goods or services, including, but not limited to, goods or services involving new technology, equipment, or techniques to such businesses listed in this subparagraph, and investments in the development of tourism facilities in the form of amusement parks, entertainment parks, theme parks, golf courses, or museums shall not be subject to said such prohibition, and Req. No. 605 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 d. expends within eighteen (18) months after the date of the investment at least fifty percent (50%) of the proceeds of the investment for the acquisition of tangible or intangible assets which are used in the active conduct of the trade or business of the Oklahoma business venture or to provide working capital for the active c onduct of such trade or business. For purposes of this subparagraph, “working capital” shall not include consulting, brokerage or transaction fees. Provided, that the Oklahoma Tax Commission, upon request and demonstration of need by a qualified venture capital company or an Oklahoma business venture, may extend the eighteen -month period otherwise required by this subparagraph for a period not to exceed six (6) months. Provided, the expenditure of the invested funds by the Oklahoma business venture shall otherwise comply with the requirements applicable to the usage of tax credits for investment in the Oklahoma business venture. As used in this subparagraph, “tangible assets” shall include the acquisition of real property and the construction of improvem ents upon real property if such acquisition and construction otherwise complies with the requirements applicable to the usage of tax Req. No. 605 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 credits for investment in the Oklahoma business venture and “intangible assets” shall be limited to computer software, lice nses, patents, copyrights, and similar items; 3. “Direct investment” means the purchase of securities of a private company, or securities of a public company if the securities constitute a new issue of a public company and such public company had previous year sales of less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00); and 4. “Debt and equity funds ” means investments in debt securities; including unsecured, undersecured, subordinated or convertible loans or debt securities; and/or equity securities, including common and preferred stock, royalty rights, limited partnership interest, an d any other securities or rights that evidence ownership in businesses; provided such investment of debt and equity funds shall not have a repayment schedule that is faster than a level principal amortization over five (5) years. C. The credit provided for in subsection A of this section shall be twenty percent (20%) of the cash amount invested in qualified venture capital companies which is subsequently invested in an Oklahoma business venture by the qualified venture capital company and may only be claim ed for a taxable year during which the qualified venture capital company makes an investment in an Oklahoma business venture. The credit shall be allowed for the amount of the Req. No. 605 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 investment in an Oklahoma business venture if the funds are used in pursuit of a legitimate business purpose of the Oklahoma business venture consistent with its organizational instrument, bylaws or other agreement responsible for the governance of the busi ness venture. The qualified venture capital company shall issue such reports as the Oklahoma Tax Commission may require attributing the source of funds of each investment it makes in an Oklahoma business venture. The Oklahoma Capital Investment Board sha ll have the authority to certify an entity as a qualified venture capital company and to certify an investment to be a qualifying Oklahoma business venture for purposes of complying with subsection B of this section. Such certification shall be binding on the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Such certification shall not be mandatory but m ay be requested by any entity that desires to be certified. A reasonable certification fee may be charged by the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board for this service. If the tax credit allowed pursuant to subsection A of this section exceeds the amount of taxes due or if there are no state taxes due of the taxpayer, the amount of the claim not used as an offset against the taxes of a taxable year may be carried forward as a credit against subsequent tax liability for a period not to exceed three (3) years. No investor in a venture capital company organized after July 1, 1992, may claim tax credits under the provisions of this section. Req. No. 605 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 D. No taxpayer may claim the credit provided for in subsection A of this section for investments in qualified venture capital companies made prior to January 1, 1987. E. No investor whose capital is guaranteed by the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board may claim or transfer the credit provided for in subsection A of this section for investments in such guaranteed portfolio. F. The credit provided for in subsection A of this section, to the extent not previously utilized, shall be freely transferable to and by subsequent transferees for a period of thr ee (3) years from the date of investment in the Oklahoma business venture. G. F. If a pass-through entity is entitled to a credit under this section, the pass -through entity shall allocate such credit to one or more of the shareholders, partners or member s of the pass- through entity; provided, the total of all credits allocated sha ll not exceed the amount of the credit to which the pass -through entity is entitled. The credit may also be claimed for funds borrowed by the pass-through entity to make a quali fied investment if a shareholder, partner or member to whom the credit is allocated has an unlimited and continuing legal obligation to repay the borrowed funds but the allocation may not exceed such shareholder ’s, partner’s or member’s pro-rata equity share of the pass-through entity even if the taxpayer ’s legal obligation to repay the borrowed funds is in excess of such pro -rata share of such borrowed funds. Req. No. 605 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 For purposes of this act the Oklahoma Income Tax Act , “pass-through entity” means a corporation t hat for the applicable tax years is treated as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, trust or limited liability company that for the applicable tax yea r is not taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 85.42, is amended to read as follows: Section 85.42. A. 1. Except as otherwise provided for in this section or other applicable law, any agency, whether or not such agency is subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, is prohibited from entering into a sole source contract or a contract for professional services with or for the services of any person , who has terminated employment with or who has been terminated by that agency for one (1) year after the termination date of the employee from the agency. The provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit an agency from hiring or rehiring such person as a state employee. 2. Any chief administrative officer of an agency, whether or not such agency is subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, shall not enter into any contract for nonprofessional or professional services for the purpose of or which would result in Req. No. 605 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 the circumvention of the full -time equivalent employee limitation established by law for such agency. B. Each contract entered into by any person or firm with the State of Oklahoma this state shall include a statement certifying that no person who has bee n involved in any manner in the development of that contract while employed by the state shall be employed to fulfill any of the services provided for under the contract. This subsection shall not preclude faculty and staff of the institutions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from negotiating and participating i n research grants and educational contracts. Nor shall this subsection apply to Oklahoma Department of Commerce personnel who contract to provide services to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board. C. As used in this section, person “person” is defined as any state official or employee of a department, board, bureau, commission, agency, trusteeship, authority, council, committee, trust, school district, fair board, court, executi ve office, advisory group, task force, study group, supported in whole or in part by public funds or entrusted with the expenditure of public funds or administering or operating public property, and all committees, or subcommittees thereof, judges, justice s and state legislators. Req. No. 605 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 D. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the following sole source or professional services contracts are allowed at any time: 1. A contract for professional services at any time with a person who is a qualifi ed interpreter for the deaf; and 2. A contract between a business entity that is a part-time certified court reporter and the Administrative Office of the Courts, on behalf of the district courts, or the Office of the Attorney General. E. Provided the provisions specified in subsection B of this section are satisfied, the following professional services contracts are allowed: 1. The Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry may contract with a person who has retired from state service; 2. To maintain public health infrastructure and preparedness, the State Department of Health and city -county health departments may contract with a physician assistant, registered nurse Registered Nurse, advanced practice nurse, nurse midwife Nurse-Midwife, registered dietician, occupational therapist, physical therapist or speech-language pathologist who has retired from state service; and Req. No. 605 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 3. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services may contract with a physician, registered nurse Registered Nurse, registered pharmacist or person meeting the definition of a lice nsed mental health professional, as defined in Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, who has separated and/or retired from state service. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 3601.1, as last amended by Section 36, Chapter 29, O.S.L. 2023 (74 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3601.1), is amended to read as follo ws: Section 3601.1. A. For purposes of Sections 3601.1 through 3603 of this title, the term “employee” means a full-time employee or any number of part -time employees whose com bined weekly hours of employment equal those of a full -time employee, but shall not include temporary employees working on a seasonal basis between May 1 and October 31. B. Beginning July 1, 2008, the maximum number of full -time- equivalent employees for e ach of the following agencies, boards, commissions, departments, or programs s hall not exceed the numbers specified in this section, except as may be authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 3603 of this title. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FULL-TIME-EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES Oklahoma Employment Security Commission 1150 Oklahoma Accountancy Board 11 Req. No. 605 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 Board of Governors of the Licensed Architects, Landscape Architects and Registered Commercial Licensed Interior Designers of Oklahoma 4 Board of Chiropractic Examiner s 3 State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 16 Board of Dentistry 10 Oklahoma Funeral Board 5 State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors 10 State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision/ Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners/ State Board of Examiners of Perfusionists 29 Oklahoma Energy Resources Board 5 Oklahoma New Motor Vehicle Commission 6 Oklahoma Board of Nursing 35 Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Long -Term Care Administrators 4 Board of Examiners in Optometry 3 State Board of Osteopathic Examiners 7 State Board of Pharmacy 15 State Board of Examiners of Psychologists 2 Oklahoma Real Estate Commission 26 Board of Examiners for Speech -Language Pathology and Audiology 2 Req. No. 605 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 Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler, and Manufactured Housing Commission 15 State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners 6 Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System 13 Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System 12 Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma 52 Oklahoma Public Employees Retirem ent System 63 Oklahoma Student Loan Authority 85 The Oklahoma Industrial Finan ce Authority/Oklahoma Development Finance Authority 10 State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board 178 Oklahoma Capital Investment Board 4 State Board of Licensed Social Workers 1 Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council 38 Banking Department 46 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Administration 10 C. The duties and compensation of employees, not otherwise prescribed by law, necessary to perform the duties imposed upon the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees by law shall be set by the Board of Trustees. Req. No. 605 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 D. Temporary employees of the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler, and Manufactured Housing Commission between the dates of November 1 and January 31 an nually shall not be counted toward the maximum number of full -time-equivalent employees provided for in this section. SECTION 4. REPEALER 74 O.S. 2021, Sections 5085.1 through 5085.16, are hereby repealed. SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 60-1-605 RD 1/15/2025 10:10:53 AM