New Oklahoma laws on the plate for ’09

 
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT    Comment on this article Leave a comment
Published: January 1, 2009
Modified: December 31, 2008 at 11:10 pm
photo - The new Oklahoma car tag.
The new Oklahoma car tag.

Most Oklahoma vehicles will be getting a dash of color this year at no added cost to many owners.

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Other measures
Laws that take effect today
Electric utilities

House Bill 1739 establishes procedures on who can provide electric service in annexed areas of cities that have their own power systems. It allows electric companies to compete for new customers in newly annexed areas. It also allows a utility company to negotiate with cities on which parts of annexed areas will be served by the utility and the city.

Under previous law, an electric utility could go to the city council and ask for a franchise election on serving the city. If the city refused, the utility company could circulate a petition for a citywide vote.

The measure was supported by OG&E Energy Corp. and American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma. It was opposed by the Oklahoma Municipal League, including Edmond and 63 other cities that operate their own electric services in Oklahoma.

Fire-safe cigarettes
House Bill 3341 requires cigarettes sold in Oklahoma comply with fire safety standards. The paper on the so-called fire-safe cigarettes is thicker in two spots so they will go out if not puffed when they burn to these areas. The intent is to prevent fires caused when cigarettes are left unattended.

Some brands of cigarettes sold in Oklahoma have already made the change.

Tribal smoke shops will have the safe cigarettes, according to the law’s author, Rep. Michael Thompson, R-Oklahoma City. Tribal smoke shops buy their products from wholesalers, and the legislation requires wholesalers to comply.

Stores will be allowed to sell their inventory of cigarettes that are not fire-safe if they bought those cigarettes before today.

Aerospace engineers
House Bill 3239 encourages engineers and new engineering graduates to work at Oklahoma aerospace firms by providing tax credits not exceeding $5,000 a year for up to five years to engineering graduates who sign on with Oklahoma aerospace companies. It also gives tax credits to aerospace companies that hire engineers, with a larger credit for graduates of Oklahoma schools.

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