Oklahoma

Laws banning banks from underwriting municipal bond deals because of their fossil fuel or firearm policies dramatically boosted underwriting spreads, a business group's study said.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond released opinions that disallowed the holding of multiple government roles by Turnpike Authority Executive Director Tim Gatz and upheld the constitutionality of a 2023 law that altered the turnpike's governance structure.

The elimination of the 4.5% tax will cost the state about $400 million annually.

Texas bond volume climbed 22.5% to lead the nation in a year when issuance in the eight-state Southwest region increased by only 0.6%.

Oklahoma is on a roll, notching its third positive rating outlook since July with the latest move coming from Fitch Ratings.

The push for bills to punish companies, including municipal bond underwriters, for their fossil fuel or firearm policies continues in Arizona and Oklahoma.

The chamber is once again refusing Gov. Kevin Stitt's call to pass an income tax cut during a special session.

The Republican governor is trying once again to focus lawmakers' attention on cutting income taxes during a special session set to begin Jan. 29.

As double-digit revenue growth comes to an end, Southwest governors are crafting budgets to deal with the new normal.

A 2023 state law gave legislative leaders four appointments to the six-member turnpike board as lawmakers sought to reform the agency in the wake of a controversial, bond-financed expansion project.

The case, which was refiled last week without federal claims from an earlier lawsuit, will have its first hearing in January.

A project to build a new arena for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder will move forward after voters approved the extension of a sales tax.

Finance officials from Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Palm Beach County have joined Israel Bonds' new Government, Industry and Financial Services Leadership group.

Court-approved asset sales and bond exchanges are pushing a participant sports venue, a hospital, and a senior living community closer to exiting Chapter 11.

Litigation brought by a state public pension recipient challenges the constitutionality of a 2022 law prohibiting governmental contracts with companies the Oklahoma treasurer determines are "boycotting" energy businesses.

The top five bond financings have an average dollar volume of more than $1 billion.

A subpoena sent to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission this week seeks communications related to 2021's Winter Storm Uri and nearly $3 billion of utility securitizations that priced in 2022.

Attorney General Ken Paxton put several big banks under a review last month, raising concerns more municipal bond underwriters could be driven out of the state.

The Grand River Dam Authority, the state's largest public power utility, is expected to start issuing the debt later this year.

A $25.5 million cash offer plus some equity was made to acquire Legacy Park, which was financed with $284 million of now-defaulted revenue bonds.