LAWTON, Okla. – Representative Marilyn Stark has introduced a bill aimed at offering sales tax exemptions to qualifying nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma. The proposed legislation would apply to nonprofits with annual gross revenues of $3 million or less. However, purchases of alcohol and tobacco would remain ineligible for the exemption.
This bill, filed in the current legislative session, is a reintroduction of similar legislation Stark proposed in 2023. While the bill passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives last year, it ultimately did not receive a hearing in the Senate.
Stark, in a press release, highlighted the growing financial pressures on nonprofits due to inflation. “Thanks to inflation, a dollar, whether it’s donated or provided through a grant, doesn’t have the same buying power it did five years ago,” she said.
Nonprofits often rely on donations, grants, and volunteer efforts to fund their operations, and Stark’s bill aims to ease some of the financial strain by reducing the cost of goods and services they purchase. If passed, the legislation could help smaller organizations stretch their limited budgets further, allowing them to focus more on their mission and services rather than on rising costs.
Supporters of the bill argue that it could provide significant relief to nonprofits that serve communities across Oklahoma, especially those working on tight budgets and with limited resources.
