Oklahoma’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is modeled on an a federal tax credit that has been proven to be effective in encouraging work and supporting low-income families with children. But in 2016 , the Legislature slashed the state EITC for over 200,000 Oklahoma families by making the credit “non-refundable,” meaning it does nothing for families who pay sales taxes and property taxes but don’t earn enough to pay state income taxes.
Refundability is critical for the EITC to serve its function of making work pay and reducing poverty for those workers earning the least. A single parent with two kids working full-time at $10 an hour lost more than $200 last year because Oklahoma’s EITC is not refundable. Learn more about the EITC here.
This session, we have an opportunity to fix the mistakes of the past and you can help.
Several bills have been filed this session to restore the EITC tax credit and provide a vital boost to hard-working Oklahomans. Unfortunately, these bills have stalled in committee without being brought up for debate or a vote.
In the Senate, call the members of the Senate Finance Committee and ask them to call for a vote on these bills that would restore EITC refundability–SB 169, SB 637, SB 659 and SB 792.
| Sen. Stephanie Bice | 405-521-5592 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Chuck Hall | 405-521-5628 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Kay Floyd | 405-521-5610 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Julia Kirt | 405-521-5636 | [email protected] |
| Sen. John Michael Montgomery | 405-521-5567 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Dave Rader | 405-521-5620 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Paul Rosino | 405-521-5618 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Frank Simpson | 405-521-5607 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Brenda Stanley | 405-521-5584 | [email protected] |
| Sen. Roger Thompson | 405-521-5588 | [email protected] |
In the House, call members of the House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee and ask them to call for a vote on these bills that would restore EITC refundability–HB 1033, HB 1084, HB 1454, HB 1860 and HB 2459.
| Rep. Scott Fetgatter | 405-557-7373 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Merleyn Bell | 405-557-7386 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Jeff Boatman | 405-557-7341 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Chelsey Branham | 403-557-7409 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Rusty Cornwell | 405-557-7319 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Brian Hill | 405-557-7333 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Mark Lepak | 405-557-7380 | [email protected] |
| Rep. Garry Mize | 405-557-7350 | [email protected] |
Update on other legislation:
SB 605, a bill which would expand access to health insurance, passed out of committee by a unanimous vote. It has now been assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB 252, a bill that will help end pretrial detention for people accused of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies who are locked up simply because they’re unable to buy their freedomfrom a bail bond agent, passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee with a 9-2 vote. The title was struck and the bill now proceeds to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
HB 1269, a bill that would allow people convicted of simple drug possession and low-level property crime to be eligible for shorter sentences, is still waiting for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee.
