MIKE JACKSON SHARES KEY PRIORITIES FOR OKLAHOMA’S 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
million, but we hit that cap every year. We’ve proposed a $20 million increase and extension to ensure projects like OAK and The National come to fruition. This is also crucial for rural Oklahoma. The Quality Events Act has also been successful, with a key win being the relocation of Cattlemen’s Congress to the state fairgrounds from Denver. Programs like the Quality Events Act not only help our region but also offer future possibilities for surrounding areas. The Chamber helped create the act in 2010 and has supported updates to enhance its usability and effectiveness in the future. The Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit, reviewed by the Incentive Evaluation Commission, demonstrated a strong return on investment. In 2017, for every $1 Oklahoma spent on credit, the state saw $89 in return. This tax credit has proven to be a highly profitable investment, generating significant economic benefits for the state. Q: What legislative actions will you support to foster innovation, and how can the state better support research partnerships between businesses and universities? Last year, we expanded a committee to focus on research and development, exploring federal funding and innovation with partners. We have a bill with Senator Kelly Hines to mirror the federal BioSecure Act. Our goal is to foster BIO innovation in the biospace while protecting Oklahoma’s assets. This will be challenging, but I’m excited about the potential to put something in place for the future.
As the 2025 legislative session unfolds, the Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Government & Community Relations Mike Jackson shares his insights on key priorities for Oklahoma’s future. In this Q&A, Jackson discusses several legislative initiatives, such as ensuring the state’s economic development programs stay competitive,
MIKE JACKSON
fostering innovation through research partnerships, improving educational outcomes and more. Jackson’s responses highlight a commitment to shaping a prosperous, forward-thinking Oklahoma through strategic legislative action. Q: How do you envision empowering local governments to tailor their structure and functions to better serve communities? County government reform is a top priority. A bill moving through the legislature targets efficiencies in Oklahoma’s two largest counties—Oklahoma and Tulsa— by improving county services, enhancing effectiveness and protecting taxpayer dollars. The bill applies only to counties with populations of 500,000 or more. Q: How do you plan to ensure economic development programs remain competitive and continue to attract businesses to Oklahoma? Several programs, including the Tourism Development Act, Quality Events Act and Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit, are set to sunset either at the end of this year or mid-next year. We are working to extend these successful programs. The Chamber raised the Tourism Development Act cap from $15 million to $30
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