The budget for Oklahoma's upcoming fiscal year includes $42 million that will be given to companies that expand Internet access in rural areas. About one-fifth of Oklahoma homes don't have broadband.
Oklahoma lawmakers passed several bills this session to aid in the state’s effort to expand broadband in rural areas. That includes $42 million in tax rebates for companies to pay for equipment to expand broadband in underserved and rural areas.
Utility legislation, now law, will protect Oklahoma families, seniors and small businesses
Oklahoma State Senate
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two Senate bills to help manage huge spikes in energy costs after February’s historic winter storm will protect seniors, families, small businesses and Oklahoma’s economy. That’s according to Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, chair of the Senate select committee created to study the issue. Both Senate Bills 1049 and 1050 were recently signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Leewright, who also chairs the Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee, presented the measures on the floor on behalf of Senate principal author, Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson. Rep. Garry Mize, chair of the House Utilities Committee, is the House principal author.
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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed two bills to help utility customers avoid high bills because of winter storms.
Senate Bill 1049 and Senate Bill 1050 will establish bond-financed, pooled loan programs for unregulated and regulated utilities currently holding about $4.5 billion in debt.
Sen. James Leewright (R-Bristow) said without the measures, Oklahomans would have seen utility bills skyrocket. The impact on our economy, just as we are recovering from the pandemic, would have been devastating, Leewright said. These may be two of the most important bills of the session.
The increased cost comes from natural gas prices soaring due to a surge in demand during the deep freeze in February.