The House this week passed a bill that lays the framework for bringing thousands of high-paying technology jobs to our state.
House Bill 4455 would create the Large-scale Economic Activity and Development (LEAD) Act of 2022, providing a 10-year investment rebate program for qualified capital expenses by specific businesses based on their creation of new direct jobs.
The bill comes in response to one of the world’s most prominent, enduring technology brands expressing interest in building the largest Gigafactory in the world in Pryor to produce batteries for electric vehicles. The project calls for 4,000 direct jobs at the Gigafactory and 4,000 additional support positions. The 3.3-million-square-foot facility (76 acres under one roof) represents a $4 billionplus capital investment in our state.
Landing this deal would turn Oklahoma into a technology state, and would help all areas of the state by creating a new industry in a market with demand ample for manufacturing facilities statewide.
Whether we love it or not, electric vehicles will own the worldwide auto market in the next 30 years. Oklahoma can be the next U.S. auto hub. With our central location and our focus on building our workforce, Oklahoma is an ideal hub for this industry.
We've long said we want Oklahoma open for business and to create opportunities to improve our quality of life. This deal could further our progress toward this goal.
On another note, my House Bill 3381 passed the Senate and as of this writing is awaiting the governor's signature to become law. This was a constituent request that would allow process servers the option of delivering court summonses or petitions for individuals under the age of 15 or those declared to be incompetent to an agreedupon meeting place instead of directly to a residence. This could save time and better protect these servers.
In the House, meanwhile, I secured passage of Senate Bill 1529, a request bill from the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority. This updates statutes from when the authority was established in 1981.
We're coming into the last quarter of our legislative session. The House is wrapping up its work to consider Senate bills, and our bills are being heard in the opposite chamber. Once bills pass both chambers, they advance to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law.
At the same time. we are building our state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. We continue to have strong revenues, so this should be a very positive process this year.
On a final note, I did not draw an opponent for this year's election. So, it is with great pleasure that I will continue to represent the constituents of House District 59 for another two years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Please follow regular updates on my house Facebook page and reach out anytime at (405) 557-7407 o r Mike.Dobrinski@okhouse.gov.
In your service, Mike Dobrinski
Mike Dobrinski serves District 59 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Dewey and parts of Blaine, Canadian, Kingfisher and Woodward counties.