OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Mike Dobrinski on Monday criticized Gov. Kevin Stitt for allowing legislation to be vetoed without his signature that would have ended a state tax exemption for future solar energy and battery storage projects.
The Okeene Republican, who chairs the House Utilities Committee, said he was disappointed after Senate Bill 237 was pocket vetoed. The governor’s deadline to act on the measure expired May 29 after lawmakers had already adjourned the 2026 legislative session sine die.
The bill would have prohibited solar generation facilities and battery energy storage systems, known as BESS projects, from qualifying for Oklahoma’s Five-Year Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Manufacturers beginning in January 2028.
“I’m extremely disappointed the governor chose not to enact this legislation that had widespread support from constituents and legislators alike,” Dobrinski said. “He overruled the decision of more than 100 representatives and senators to protect taxpayer money from going to out-of-state developers taking advantage of a forty-year-old tax incentive originally designed to add quality jobs investment to our state.”
Dobrinski said the Legislature has previously removed the same exemption for other industries. He noted lawmakers ended the incentive for wind energy projects in 2015 and later removed eligibility for data centers in 2021 amid concerns about the program’s cost to the state.
“Eliminating this tax exemption for wind and data centers has obviously not deterred those types of new development projects in Oklahoma,” Dobrinski said. “We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars over the next several years that could go toward much-needed projects and services for hard-working Oklahomans.”
The lawmaker also argued Oklahoma should follow efforts by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to reduce government support for renewable energy development.
“What most agree on, however, is they support President Trump’s decision to put an end to federal subsidization of the renewable industry, and Oklahoma should do the same,” Dobrinski said.
Stitt did not issue a public explanation for declining to sign the measure.
The bill’s demise preserves eligibility for the manufacturing ad valorem tax exemption for qualifying solar generation and battery storage projects, at least for now. Dobrinski indicated he expects the issue to return when a new governor takes office.
“I look forward to working soon with our next governor to end this corporate welfare as quickly as possible,” he said.
