Disabled veterans sales tax exemption

We had a productive week recently finishing the passage of bills out of committee. Of the 2,600 House bills eligible to be heard in committees before the deadline, 505 House Bills and House Joint Resolutions successfully passed committee.

I am pleased to announce that Senate Bill 1215 has passed the House floor and is now going to the Governor’s desk for final approval. This bill eliminates the registration deadline of November 1, 2023, for Oklahoma veterans to register on the veteran’s registry.

The primary objective of this bill is to protect qualifying disabled veterans who receive the sales tax exemption before November 1, 2020, from losing their exemption status due to failure to meet the registration deadline.

To provide some context, the Legislature had previously filed legislation to safeguard Oklahoma veterans, but the change in the registration deadline caused many 100% disabled veterans to miss out on their annual sales tax exemption.

To address this issue, the House and Senate worked together to ensure that this bill would be sent to the Governor’s desk as soon as possible. I believe that Oklahoma veterans with a 100% disability rating should receive the tax benefits they urgently need, especially given the current challenging economic environment.

Senate Bill 1215 had an emergency clause. As soon as the Governor signs it, the July 1, 2023, deadline will be removed, allowing any 100% permanently disabled veterans or their surviving spouses to be eligible for their annual sales tax exemption.

If you are a veteran or a surviving spouse, and have any questions regarding this registration, please do not hesitate to contact my office. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

A significant bill that passed last week is House Bill 3694, a proposed amendment to decrease the felony threshold for theft from $1,000 to $500.

Currently, nationwide, there is a rise in violent crime, particularly in retail settings. The National Retail Federation reports that over 81% of business owners have faced more violent theft-related crimes compared to previous years.

On July 1, 2017, Oklahoma increased felony thresholds, and overall crime rates substantially rose after this change. According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, between 2018 and 2019, there was a 54% increase in property-related crimes and 34% in offenses against persons.

The data shows that crime is on the rise across Oklahoma. HB3694 deters theft and protects employees by lowering the felony threshold for larceny, aligning legal consequences with the economic value of stolen goods.

I supported this bill to ensure swift accountability of violent offenders and address the surge in crime rates in Oklahoma.

The House passed House Joint Resolution 1034, which I coauthored. It proposes to send a statewide vote to amend the Oklahoma Constitution. The goal is to protect citizens’ rights to own common arms such as handguns, rifles, shotguns, knives, etc., for self-defense, hunting, and recreation.

The proposed amendment would add to our constitution the right to keep and bear arms, which cannot be infringed upon. It would make any law that imposes registration or special taxation on the possession, acquisition, ownership, or transfer of arms, ammunition, or components illegal.

The Second Amendment is fundamental to personal freedom and safeguards all other constitutional rights. It recognizes individuals’ inherent right to defend themselves, their families, and their property.

Again, thank you for electing me to serve District 21. It is truly an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7366 or cody.maynard@okhouse.gov.

Rep. Cody Maynard, a Republican, serves District 21 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Bryan and Marshall counties.