Oklahoma
Two Oklahoma bills aim to reduce state’s 6% markup on groceries, gas
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt calls on lawmakers to end state grocery tax
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt asked state lawmakers to pass legislation to end the state grocery tax during a media conference at the state Capitol.
Addison Kliewer, Oklahoman
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.
Crews responded to a fireworks stand after it caught fire in Broken Arrow Saturday night.
Authorities urged people to avoid E. Kanosha Street near S. 236th E. Avenue as the road is closed and fireworks could spread in the area due to the fire.
Broken Arrow Fire Department released a statement confirming no injuries were sustained as a result of the explosions or fire.
Fire crews quickly controlled the fire in about 20 minutes according to Broken Arrow Fire Department.
The initial cause of the fire is under investigation.
Viewer Leslie Maxey, who lives close to the fireworks stand, sent in video of the ongoing fire.
“We were putting our daughter to bed with a book when we heard an explosion that was gradually getting louder and louder,” Maxey said.
This is a developing story.
What you need to know about Oklahoma ahead of the College World Series
North Carolina will face a dangerous Oklahoma team that is on a roll.
Oklahoma (41-22) has been just as dominant. The Sooners, making their 13th College World Series appearance and first since 2022, surged through the postseason as road warriors. They won the Atlanta Regional by upsetting No. 2 seed and ACC champion Georgia Tech in the final, then swept Big 12 champion and No. 15 seed Kansas by a combined score of 21-3 in the Lawrence Regional.
The Sooners, who are 3-0 in Omaha after beating No. 7 seed Alabama and knocking off No. 3 seed and SEC champion Georgia twice, are seeking their third national championship. Oklahoma won titles in 1951 and 1994 and finished as runner-up to Ole Miss in 2022.
Here are a few things to know about Oklahoma:
Best player: Catcher Deiten LaChance
LaChance is Oklahoma’s most powerful hitter. He is batting .333 with 12 doubles, two triples and team highs of 16 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Throughout the postseason, he is hitting .326 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. In Omaha, he is 5-for-14 (.357) with one home run and five RBIs.
Strengths
Like North Carolina, Oklahoma is a balanced team that is good at a little bit of everything and is built to frustrate opponents.
Oklahoma is a balanced hitting team like UNC, but the Sooners have hit a few more homers with 91, compared to the Tar Heels’ 82. That is largely due to the Sooners smashing 26 home runs in their 10 postseason games. In Omaha, OU has homered eight times, including five homers in its win over Georgia in its previous game.
The Sooners have stolen 129 bases this season. That is good for 24th nationally and second in the SEC.
Pitching-wise, OU is 18th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings and leads the SEC in shutouts.
Weaknesses
The most glaring weakness is the pitching staff, despite its ability to strike out opposing batters and record shutouts.
The Sooners have a 4.98 ERA as a staff. Only one pitcher with 10 or more appearances has an ERA under 3.60.
They also allow 4.51 walks per nine innings, which ranks 138th nationally.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
It was a Friday Night Lights in June kind of moment for the Oklahoma State Cowboys as Israel “Izzy” Hammons made his commitment announcement.
The Choctaw, Okla., rising senior announced his decision to commit to Oklahoma State on Friday during an Instagram Live session. The Cowboys beat out a roster of schools vying for the linebacker, most notably Texas.
Hammons made just two official visits — one to OSU and one to Texas last week.
His commitment pushed the Cowboys’ 2027 recruiting class back to nine players after the defection of Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL) offensive lineman Chase Clark to Purdue.
Commitments are non-binding. The earliest that Hammons can sign with OSU is in December.
Izzy Hammons to OSU
Hammons is the first four-star player to commit to the Cowboys this cycle. Their previous commitments all came from three-star players. The 6-3, 225-pound linebacker was considered a Top 200 player in the country by both On3/Rivals and 247Sports. Both services had him ranked as a Top 10 player in the state of Oklahoma at any position. He’s also considered the No. 1 linebacker in the state.
He also runs track and field, competing in the high jump and the 100-meter days, with a personal best of 11.30 seconds in the latter.
The Longhorns came in hot at the end but already had linebackers committed to the program this cycle. For the Cowboys getting a pledge from a player like Hammons is key to shore up a position where they didn’t have a commitment and where they plan to use senior transfers as starters in 2026. That means OSU and head coach Eric Morris must start building a pipeline now.
OSU’s Class of 2027
After Clark’s decommitment the Cowboys were down to eight recruits for 2027 entering Friday, most of which were on the offensive side of the ball and starting with Iowa Colony (Texas) quarterback Carson White, who was the cycle’s first commitment in April.
Up front, OSU has two offensive line commitments Jake Baker of Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tenn., and Sonny Mullen of Troy, Texas. When it comes to skill positions players the Cowboys have three commitments as well, including two wide receivers — Cooper Hooker of Pryor (Quapaw, Okla.) High School and Ake O’Neal of Argyle, Texas. Oklahoma State also has a pledge from tight end Talan Scott of Queen City, Ariz.
Defensively, the Cowboys have commitments from safeties Chayce Davis of Euless (Texas) Trinity High School and Bryson Brown of Broken Bow, Okla.
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