Senate passes Jech measures to modify vehicle sales tax and registrations

Senate passes Jech measures to modify vehicle sales tax and registrations

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans may soon have a little extra money in their pockets after buying a new car or truck. The Senate approved a pair of measures authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, on Monday that would change how the state collects sales tax on vehicle purchases and how long citizens have to register that new purchase.

Senate Bill 1486 would modify the formula used to calculate how much sales tax is owed on the purchase of a vehicle. Under current law, sales tax is calculated on the initial cost of the vehicle, even if a trade-in allowance is used to lower the cost of the total purchase. Jech’s legislation would modify this calculation and base sales tax only on the difference of the price of the new vehicle and the value of the trade-in.

SB 1318 would extend the amount of time a buyer of a vehicle has to register the new purchase with the state by doubling the time frame from 30 to 60 days.

State Senate passes bill to take trade-in value out of vehicle sales tax

Senate approves vehicle sales tax modification

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Senate has approved a measure that would modify the calculation of sales tax applied to vehicles.

When a vehicle is purchased under current law, a sales tax of 1.25 percent is levied on the full price of the car. Senate Bill 1619, authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, would modify this calculation so the sales tax would be based on the difference between the actual sales price of a vehicle and the value of a trade-in, if applicable. This tax calculation is used in 38 states.

“Right now, if you buy a $15,000 vehicle, you pay sales tax on that price even if you traded in your car to make the purchase more affordable,” Jech said. “If Senate Bill 1619 is signed into law and you buy a car for $15,000, but trade in your vehicle for a $10,000 credit, you would only have to pay sales tax on the $5,000 you actually paid.”

The average American purchases a new car every six years, and Jech said this measure would make the car buying process more affordable for Oklahoma families.

“We all know the frustration of feeling over-taxed when making a large purchase, and this measure aims to keep more money in the pockets of Oklahomans,” Jech said.

The bill now moves to the House for further consideration, where Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, will present the measure.

State House passes bill to allow bonds for aging flood-control dams

Bill to Allow Bonds for Aging Flood-Control Dams Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill authorizing the issue of bonds to improve and repair some of the state’s high-risk flood-control dams passed the House today with a vote of 93-1.

House Bill 3298 by state Rep. Carl Newton (R-Cherokee) authorizes the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority (OCIA) to acquire property and invest capital to update dams throughout Oklahoma.

“Many of these dams are more than 50 years old and have reached their life expectancy,” Newton said. “It is important that we protect the homes and cities that are built beneath these structures, many of which supply water to surrounding communities.”

HB 3298 is asking for the ability to bond $17.5 million for property acquisition and would make use of a 65% federal match of $50 million to extend the life of these dams. Debt retirement payments would be made by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. The bill passed in the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 19-0 in February.

HB 3298 is co-authored by House Majority Leader Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher) and House Majority Deputy Floor Leader John Pfeiffer (R-Orlando). The bill now moves to the state Senate where it is authored by Sen. Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher).

Optometric Physicians applaud passage of new optometry laws

Optometric Physicians Thank Governor, Legislature for Passage of New Optometry Laws

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma optometrists [Tuesday] thanked the Legislature and Governor Kevin Stitt for passing and signing legislation that will protect Oklahoma’s vision health standards while increasing convenience for consumers.

Senate Bill 100, authored by State Representative Carl Newton, himself an optometrist, removes from statute a prohibition on the sale of eyewear in non-medical, retail settings. It would allow retail stores to sell frames and lenses. It would also allow retail stores to lease space to optometrists. However, unlike previous proposals (including the previously rejected State Question 793), SB 100 contains vigorous protections for patient safety, quality of care, and the independence of the doctor.

Under SB 100, any optometry clinic leasing space from a retail store would need to be a separate legal entity owned and operated by an optometric physician licensed in Oklahoma. That optometrist cannot be an employee of the retail entity. Furthermore, the optometry clinic would be required to be physically separate from the retail space, with its own external entrance. The language maintains Oklahoma’s status as one of 16 so-called “two door” states, which include neighboring Texas and Kansas.

Also unlike State Question 793, SB 100 clarifies that the independently operating Board of Examiners in Optometry regulates optometrists’ scope-of- practice, and that a corporate entity cannot restrict or influence how a doctor practices.

Dr. Selina McGee, an Edmond optometrist and president of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, said the bill is a positive development for optometric physicians and their patients.

“Our primary concern as eye doctors is protecting Oklahoma’s very high standards for quality of care and patient safety,” said Dr. McGee. “To preserve those high standards, optometrists need to be operating independently, free of corporate control or interference, and governed by a medical board. SB 100 is consistent with those principles, where State Question 793 and other previous proposals were not.”

More on SB 100:

SB 100 stipulates:

• That retail outlets may sell frames and lenses;
• That retail outlets may begin to lease space to optometric physicians in a phased-in, gradual manner with a timeline based on population density;
• That the doctor may not be an employee of the retail outlet;
• That the doctor will not receive any additional compensation for referring patients to the retail stores’ optical services;
• That the care given to the patient be the main concern of the optometric physician, or other physician providing vision care;
• That the doctor’s office be separate from the retail outlet’s optical shop; and
• That the current laws be followed in giving a patient a prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

SB 100 also:

• Defines the responsibility of the doctor to his patients;
• Sets out penalties for infraction of the law;
• Includes language disallowing the retailer to sell below costs; and
• Adds new language that puts into law requirements for a contact lens prescription and requirements for the renewal of contact lens prescriptions by persons other than the prescribing doctor.

Optometrists Endorse Legislation to Increase Access to Frames and Lenses

Optometrists Endorse Legislation to Increase Access to Frames and Lenses

Bill Also Maintains High Standards of Care and Patient Protections

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians (OAOP) today announced their support for Senate Bill 100, as amended by Rep. Carl Newton, which would allow easier access to frames and lenses while still preserving the state’s high standards for quality vision care and patient protections. The new language was introduced as a committee substitute late Wednesday (4/9).

SB 100 removes from statute a prohibition on the sale of eyewear in non-medical, retail settings. It would allow big retail stores to sell frames and lenses. The bill also uses language modeled from Texas law that would allow large retailers to lease office space to optometric physicians. However, any optometry clinic within such a leased space would be required to be owned and operated by an optometric physician licensed in Oklahoma. An optometry clinic within a space leased by a retailer would need to physically and legally separate from the retail space, with its own external entrance. The language maintains Oklahoma’s status as one of 16 so-called “two door” states, which include neighboring Texas and Kansas.

The bill also includes new patient protections and regulations governing the use of online eye-exams performed at automated kiosks.

OAOP Executive Director Joel Robison said that optometrists have been working with lawmakers on legislation to increase access to eyewear since State Question 793 was defeated last November (State Question 793 proposed amending the State Constitution to make Oklahoma a “one door” state and to give corporate retailers unprecedented control over the delivery of eyecare). Oklahoma’s optometrists opposed the bill because of its impact on quality care, not because of concerns about where glasses or contacts are sold, Robison said.

“State Question 793 was defeated because voters agreed with their optometrists that vision care needs to be regulated by doctors, not large retailers,” said Robison. “We won’t ever compromise on high standards of care, patient protections or quality medicine.”

“At the same time, we also recognize that the law can be updated to improve patient convenience,” Robison continued. “Allowing large retailers to sell frames and lenses achieves that goal without compromising the integrity of the medical profession.”

Rep. Newton, who is also a practicing Doctor of Optometry, says the bill offers a chance to resolve an issue and move the state forward.

“It is hard to attract and retain quality vision care professionals in a regulatory and political environment that is defined by uncertainty,” said Newton. “This bill puts that issue to rest. Consumers will have more options regarding where they buy glasses and contacts. At the same time, eye doctors can rest easy knowing that they aren’t one step away from being controlled or regulated by a retail store. This is a win-win proposition for Oklahoma.”

SB 100 would preserve Oklahoma's status as a two-door state.