March 28, 2024
NASA is running out of launch sites for its growing number of rockets into space. So the Oklahoma legislature wants to take advantage of the shortage by resurrecting a tax credit program to help develop the Oklahoma Space Port at Burns Flat.
House Bill 3426 is making its way closer to the governor’s desk after winning approval in the House and a State Senate Committee.
District 55 Rep. Nick Archer (R – Elk City) says if the bill is passed, it would allow the state to enter the market with small to medium solid state rockets.
The bill was approved on a 65-28 vote and sent to the Senate where the Aeronautics and Transportation Committee gave approval Tuesday on a 10-1 vote. The measure was referred to the Finance Committee in the Senate.
Sen. John Haste of Broken Arrow, who helped author the bill, explained that the bill and its $30 million tax credit proposal is a replacement of an earlier attempt made many years ago but it was allowed to expire because of the lack of industry interest at the time.
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