Randy Krehbiel
Tulsa World Staff Writer
Major sports franchises locating in Oklahoma could recoup up to $10 million a year from the state under legislation passed by the state House of Representatives and sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday.
Known as the Oklahoma Five Major Sports Leagues Rebate Program Act, House Bill 3959, by Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, offers quarterly payments equaling 5% of payroll, with maximum payments of up to $10 million a year, for “sports-league” employment.
To qualify, a franchise would have to belong to Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League or Major League Soccer.
The NBA Oklahoma City Thunder would not qualify immediately because it already has a Quality Jobs Act contract with the state. According to an October 2023 Oklahoman story, the Thunder has received about $75 million in payroll subsidies since moving from Seattle in 2009.
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Reaching the $10 million maximum would require a payroll of $200 million.
In a text, Echols said HB 3959 is a “permanent and fiscally responsible solution for keeping and attracting pro sports teams.”
Oklahoma City voters recently approved the funding of a nearly $1 billion arena to keep the Thunder in the city, but no other major sports league franchises are known to be interested in setting up shop there.
The count on HB 3959 was 54-27, with 51 votes needed for passage. All but one of the nays came from Republicans, making this one of the few bills in recent years to need Democrat votes for passage.
Twenty members did not vote.
Also Tuesday, the House passed and sent to the governor HB 3958, by Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle. The measure requires that parents and guardians be included in digital communications between school employees and students except for academic purposes on school-approved platforms.
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