Revenue and taxation; authorizing a state income tax credit for expenditures made for purchase of feral swine removal equipment. Effective date.
Summary
SB255 creates a new Oklahoma income tax credit for certain expenses incurred to purchase equipment used to remove feral swine. Beginning with tax year 2025, eligible taxpayers may claim a credit equal to 70% of qualified expenditures for feral swine control and removal equipment, including traps, nets, suppressors, thermal or night-vision equipment, and similar devices designed to capture or eliminate feral swine. The bill defines key terms such as agricultural damage, ecological impacts, feral swine, qualified expenses, removal, and taxpayer.
The credit is limited to taxpayers who own at least 20 acres of land and, for individuals, must provide a Schedule F with the claim. Business entities may claim the credit only if they hold title to real property used primarily for agricultural purposes and own at least 20 acres, but entities engaged in the business of hunting, trapping, or removing feral swine for a fee are excluded. The credit cannot reduce tax liability below zero, is capped at $15,000 per taxpayer over all years, and may be carried forward for up to five subsequent tax years. The act is scheduled to become effective November 1, 2025.
Impact
SB255 would add a new section to Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes authorizing a refundable-style nonrefundable income tax credit structure for feral swine removal-related purchases, though the credit may only offset tax liability and cannot create a refund. It would affect individual landowners and agricultural business entities that incur costs for feral hog control equipment, while excluding commercial feral swine removal businesses. The measure is intended to encourage private investment in controlling feral swine populations and reducing agricultural and ecological damage.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears policy-driven and targeted toward agricultural interests, with a practical conservation and nuisance-wildlife management rationale. The absence of recorded discussion makes the overall sentiment indeterminate, though the bill’s framing suggests a generally supportive posture toward landowners affected by feral swine damage.
Contention
The main policy questions raised by the bill are likely to involve the cost of the tax credit, whether a 70% credit is too generous, and whether the 20-acre ownership threshold appropriately targets agricultural users. Another possible point of contention is the inclusion of equipment such as suppressors, silencers, and night-vision devices, which may draw scrutiny even though they are tied to feral swine removal. The exclusion of businesses that remove feral swine for a fee may also be debated by commercial wildlife control operators who are barred from claiming the credit.