| The Oklahoma House of Representatives just passed a new tax on recharging electric vehicles at recharging stations, then passed a companion tax credit to owners of those recharging stations. It's a wealth transfer narrative which does nothing to lower fuel taxes on gasoline or diesel. The measure gained 90 floor votes in the 101 member chamber. It now goes to the Oklahoma Senate for further approval. The measure, HB2234, would normally require a vote of the people, but the House avoided that accountability by getting a 3/4 margin and declaring an emergency authorization clause. Those members rejecting the proposal included; Crosswhite-Hader, Gann, Tommy Hardin, McDugle, Sean Roberts, Stearman, & Kevin West. The author, Kyle Hilbert; said that if he didn't get the 3/4 threshold, he'd run another bill which doesn't need more than a simple majority vote. Nowhere did he agree to send his tax increase bill to a vote of the people. He said his 3¢ tax equates to a 19¢ per gallon tax which gasoline is subject to. Hilbert said that he and Rep. Fetgatter met with charging station organizations over the past few months. He admits that much of the language was heavily influenced by industry players. |  The language of the 2 bills could result in Oklahoma taxpayers funding the property costs when convenience stores put an electrical recharging station on their retail property. |
 This vote authorizes a whole new tax on electricity sold at vehicle charging stations. |  This vote authorizes a 75% rebate on retail property purchases for charging stations. |
The language of HB1137 authorizes a transfer of wealth from taxpayers to charging stations up to an annual $5 million. It pays the corporations creating the charging stations a 75% rebate of the cost of property converted to charging stations.
Other revenue bills passed to day include HB2040 by Logan Phillips, which authorizes publicly funded broadband expansion to remote customers, using tax dollars collected from citizens in cities who already paid for their own broadband access without the funds of rural citizens. Specifically, the bill says that remote customers will not pay the same sales taxes that the rest of us do. It also specifies other rebates. It also only had a handful of dissenters who largely oppose such wealth transfers from taxpayers to corporate interests.
Other revenue bills passed to day include HB2040 by Logan Phillips, which authorizes publicly funded broadband expansion to remote customers, using tax dollars collected from citizens in cities who already paid for their own broadband access without the funds of rural citizens. Specifically, the bill says that remote customers will not pay the same sales taxes that the rest of us do. It also specifies other rebates. It also only had a handful of dissenters who largely oppose such wealth transfers from taxpayers to corporate interests.
