Last week, two other House members and I joined the Department of Commerce to attend the SHOT Show. We explored over 2,500 exhibits showcasing the newest firearm industry developments.
During the conference, I had the great opportunity to connect with out-of-state companies based in the Northeast and on the West Coast, each of them longtime industry leaders. What struck me was the unfortunate situation these companies find themselves in due to excessive regulations imposed by their home states. As we engaged in discussion, it was apparent that Oklahoma enjoys a clear advantage as a Second Amendment-friendly state. The fact that we have committed to protecting the right to bear arms sets us apart from regions where this freedom is progressively restricted. I recently filed House Bill 3427, establishing a tax credit for eligible transactions involving purchasing qualified firearms devices, such as safes, gun cases, lock boxes, and similar items. Effective January 1, 2025, the tax credit allows a maximum credit of $500 for expenses of $1,000 or more and $300 for expenses less than $1,000, with any unused credit carried over to the next five taxable years. This year, the start of session will look a little different because lawmakers will return to the State Capitol a week earlier than usual. Recently, Gov. Stitt called the Legislature into a special session, set to begin on January 29, to vote on a 0.25% reduction in the personal income tax. A week later, on Monday, February 5, our regular legislative session will begin with the Governor’s annual State of the State address.
We will vote on thousands of bills before session ends in late May. Just over 1,200 House Bills were filed before the January 18 deadline, and there are still 1,463 House Bills filed last year that are eligible to be considered this year. Filed bills may be viewed at okhouse.gov by visiting “Legislation,” then “Basic Bill Search,” where you can enter the bill number to view the full text of the bill. To view bills filed by a certain legislator, select “Advanced Bill Search” under “Legislation.” From there, you can select the legislator’s last name to view bills they’ve filed. You can also view all the bills that have been filed to date by visiting “Selected Step Reports” on the far left and select “Introduced.” Here, you can choose bills filed only in one chamber or you can select everything and view all the bills. You can also view committee meetings and floor proceedings at okhouse.gov by visiting “News & Media,” where you can watch live proceedings or recordings. It is truly an honor and privilege to represent you at the State Capitol. As always, please do not __hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at (405) 557-7312 or at nick.archer@okhouse. gov Nick Archer, a Republican, serves House District 55 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian and Washita counties.
