Oklahoma

Two Oklahoma bills aim to reduce state’s 6% markup on groceries, gas

Published

4 days ago

March 27, 2025

Two Oklahoma bills aim to reduce state’s 6% markup on groceries, gas

As Oklahoma has some of the highest average grocery bills in the country in 2024, two bills working their way through the Oklahoma Legislature aim to reduce a 6% markup on groceries that’s been in place since the 1950s.

Senate Bill 638, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville), and House Bill 1024, introduced by Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami), both target Oklahoma’s “Unfair Sales Act” of 1949. The law mandates a markup of up to 6% on most grocery store goods – including baby food, some medicines and gasoline – to cover a “proportionate part of the cost of doing business.”

At the time, proponents of the act said that the markups protected small businesses from big box stores like Sam’s Club, Walmart and Target, who could afford to undercut local sellers.

But today, Daniels and Bashore argue this cost is now prohibitive to business in the state and unnecessary for Oklahoma shoppers to shoulder.

“Oklahoma is one of only seven states with this mandatory markup on retail goods still in place, and it creates an uneven playing field for our consumers and store owners,” Bashore said in a press release. “This legislation should give Oklahomans some inflation relief, and it will give retailers greater discretion over setting their own prices.”

The business landscape has changed drastically since 1949, Daniels said, and telling businesses how to price their goods is not productive in the modern business landscape.

“To tell a larger retailer, who has been forced to mark up their goods over the years to protect a smaller retailer, that they are now hamstrung in being able to compete [in this global landscape], that’s just not something our government should be doing,” Daniels said.

For Daniels, she feels the bill will act almost as a “tax decrease” for consumers without adjusting the tax line.

“It still protects businesses from predatory pricing and low-cost pricing because we still have that statute on the books,” Daniels said. “It may have been well-intentioned back in 1949, but that’s a long time for us to artificially determine what things should cost in the marketplace.”

Sam’s Club, Walmart show support for bills in OKC

Since the bill was introduced, Sam’s Club and its owner Walmart have both made an effort to show support for SB 638 by placing stickers with information about the bill in stores and on gas pumps at their locations around Oklahoma City.

When asked to comment on why they support the bill, a Walmart spokesperson said, “Walmart is committed to helping our customers save money and live better. Senate Bill 638 is an approach aimed at providing cost savings to Oklahomans by repealing an outdated 6% markup law. This bill will allow customers the opportunity to save money on essential goods and fuel.”

At Sam’s Club on W Memorial Road, text on the sticker suggests Oklahomans “could pay less for gas” and that it was time to “lower prices and repeal mandatory markups in Oklahoma.”

The stickers include Sam’s Club logos, a QR code to scan for more information, and a statement saying “paid for by Sam’s Club in support of Consumer Action Network.”

According to data provided by ProPublica, the Consumer Action Network, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(4) corporation, which is a tax-exempt entity focused on social welfare with more flexibility in political lobbying compared to 501(c)(3) charities. According to the organization’s 2023 tax forms, the latest available, officers and directors of CAN include two people who run an East Coast corporate public relations company, one person who worked in public affairs and government relations for Walmart, and a lobbyist.

A political action committee associated with Walmart has reported giving $3,000 to Bashore’s campaign and $4,000 to Daniels’ campaign over the last three years, according to state and federal campaign filings.

What happens next with SB 628, HB 1024?

Daniels and Bashore are co-authors of the others’ bill. Their respective House and Senate measures are similar, but Bashore’s HB 1024 would not eliminate the markup on gasoline.

The legislators haven’t discussed which they’d prefer to get signed over the other if they advance to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for approval. Both bills aim to take effect on Nov. 1 if approved.

If SB638 is passed, businesses will decide whether to keep the markup at 6%, lower it or even eliminate it.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean it will be eliminated, but at least the State of Oklahoma will not be putting this artificial floor on what somebody can charge,” Daniels said.

Daniels said she plans to present the bill before the Senate this week as that is the final time to showcase a bill before it can be passed to the opposite chamber.

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Oklahoma

No. 2 Oklahoma softball loses first SEC series, falling to No. 10 Tennessee in finale

Published

4 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Press Room

No. 2 Oklahoma softball loses first SEC series, falling to No. 10 Tennessee in finale

Everything happens a first time. But few thought the No. 2 Oklahoma softball team would suffer such a fate this early in the season.

OU dropped its series finale against No. 10 Tennessee on Sunday, 5-3, and dropped a Southeastern Conference series for the first time in school history. The Sooners had beaten South Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri in its first three SEC sets.

One big inning from the Volunteers is all it took.

Tennessee responded to Oklahoma’s three runs in the bottom of the third with five of its own in the top of fourth. And they all came with two outs. Oklahoma starter Sam Landry retired the first two hitters of the frame before giving up a walk, a single and another walk to load the bases. Laura Mealer knocked in two with a double and Ella Dodge followed three pitches later, planting a home run over the right field fence.

Only two Sooners reached base in OU’s final four innings at-bat as they never truly threatened a rally.

Tennessee starter Karlyn Pickens, who last week set an NCAA record for fastest pitch when she threw a 78.3 miles-per-hour fastball against Arkansas, took a bit to find her rhythm, but finished the game allowing three runs on four hits and three walks and a hit batter while striking out six.

Oklahoma simply couldn’t find the big hit. The Sooners’ only extra-base knock came from a Kasidi Pickering three-run double in the third inning. Pickens retired 15 of the next 17 batters she faced.

Landry took the loss for OU as she gave up five runs on four hits and two walks while also striking out six. She allowed a home run and a double.

The Sooners will get back to things with a double-header Friday at Love Field against St. Thomas from the Summit League and Central Florida from the Big 12. UCF and OU will meet again Saturday in the final game in the Oktana Invitational.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City takes on Chicago, seeks 10th straight victory

Published

16 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Press Room

Chicago Bulls (33-41, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (62-12, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City heads into a matchup against Chicago as winners of nine games in a row.

The Thunder are 33-5 on their home court. Oklahoma City averages 120.1 points while outscoring opponents by 13.2 points per game.

The Bulls have gone 19-18 away from home. Chicago ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 18.2 fast break points per game led by Coby White averaging 4.5.

The Thunder are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 46.9% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls are shooting 46.7% from the field, 3.2% higher than the 43.5% the Thunder’s opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

White is shooting 44.6% and averaging 20.4 points for the Bulls. Kevin Huerter is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 123.4 points, 45.9 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.1 points per game.

Bulls: 7-3, averaging 122.4 points, 45.7 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Aaron Wiggins: day to day (achilles), Ousmane Dieng: day to day (calf), Jaylin Williams: day to day (hip), Alex Ducas: day to day (quadriceps), Nikola Topic: out for season (acl), Ajay Mitchell: out (toe).

Bulls: Ayo Dosunmu: out for season (shoulder), E.J. Liddell: day to day (illness), Lonzo Ball: day to day (wrist), Tre Jones: out (foot).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Oklahoma

Who is Raegan Beers? What to know about Oklahoma star for March Madness game vs. UConn

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2025

Press Room

Who is Raegan Beers? What to know about Oklahoma star for March Madness game vs. UConn

Editor’s note: Follow UConn women’s basketball vs. Oklahoma live updates from their Sweet 16 matchup.

Raegan Beers and No. 3 Oklahoma aim for their fourth Elite Eight appearance as they face No. 2 UConn in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA women’s tournament.

The Oregon State transfer is the top scorer for the Sooners, putting up 25 points and 18 rebounds in their first-round game against Florida Gulf Coast University. In the second-round win over Iowa, the junior added 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Beers was named to the All-SEC First Team and is a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award.

Here is more of what you need to know about the Oklahoma star center.

Raegan Beers Career stats

Oregon State Beavers

2022-23: Played in 31 games, averaging 13.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
2022-23: Started 31 games, averaging 17.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma Sooners

2024-25: Started in 32 games, averaging 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Is Raegan Beers eligible for the WNBA draft?

Beers was born on March 23, 2004, which makes her 21 years old. She does not qualify for the WNBA Draft because the league requires domestic draft entrants to be at least 22 years old during the year in which the draft takes place and to have no remaining college eligibility. She would qualify for the 2026 draft.

Raegan Beers height

Beers is listed at 6-foot-4 on the official Oklahoma women’s baseball roster, sharing the title of tallest player with forward Kiersten Johnson.

Raegan Beers recruiting

Beers was a five-star recruit and the No. 10 overall player and the No. 3 center in the 2022 recruiting class by ESPN HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. She attended Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where she was a McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022.

Beers committed Oregon State over Stanford, Colorado, UConn and Notre Dame.

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