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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
3 HOUSE BILL 1547 By: Patzkowsky
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to agricultural fairs and
expositions; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section 15-24,
8 which relates to items to be considered in
expenditure of funds; modifying language; permitting
9 consideration of certain communications and
supporting equipment; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section
10 15-55, which relates to election of officers and
directors of the county fair association; requiring
11 voting window; providing procedures for removal of
officers and directors; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section
12 15-58, which relates to items to be considered in
expenditure of funds; modifying language; permitting
13 consideration of certain communications and
supporting equipment; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section
14 15-70, which relates to annual levy in support and
maintenance of fair; permitting use of funds for
15 certain communications and supporting equipment; and
providing an effective date.
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18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
19 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 15-24, is
20 amended to read as follows:
21 Section 15-24. A. The executive board shall:
22 1. Make an estimate of the cost of the free district fair;
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1 2. Apportion to each of the counties comprising the association
2 the portion to be borne by each member county together with the plan
3 and items of expenditures; and
4 3. Certify the estimate to the county excise board in each of
5 the member counties in time to be acted on by the county excise
6 board at its annual meeting for making tax levies.
7 B. The items to be considered in the expenditure of funds shall
8 be for:
9 1. Premiums on livestock, poultry, fruit, agriculture,
10 horticultural and dairy products; boys' and girls' club work, school
11 exhibits, culinary products, textile products, needlework and
12 sewing, hand painting, decorating and drawing, and cultivated plants
13 and flowers;
14 2. The necessary expenses of management of free district fairs
15 organized under the provisions of this article, including office
16 expense, postage, telegraph and telephone, digital and electronic
17 communication, Internet and supporting equipment, traveling expenses
18 of secretary within the district in which the fair is held, printing
19 (except premium lists) and necessary office supplies, premium
20 ribbons and badges, clerical help, guards, superintendents and
21 judges; and
22 3. Advertising the fair and for decorating and cleaning the
23 grounds and buildings, and for caring for the grounds during the
24 fair.
Req. No. 11229 Page 2
1 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 15-55, is
2 amended to read as follows:
3 Section 15-55. A. As soon as practicable, prior to July first,
4 after the election of members of the county fair association, the
5 members elect shall meet at the county seat and shall perfect an
6 organization by the election of a president, vice president,
7 secretary and a board of directors. The members elect shall
8 designate a day where they shall have a twelve-hour window to vote
9 for the election of a president, vice president, secretary, and
10 board of directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of the
11 president, vice president, secretary and four members, and such
12 committees and officers as shall be deemed necessary. The secretary
13 may be selected outside of the association, but must be a resident
14 of the county seat or the town or city where the county fair is
15 held.
16 B. The president, vice president, secretary, or any member of
17 the board of directors may be removed from their position for
18 failure to attend at least fifty percent (50%) of meetings in a
19 calendar year. The president, vice president, secretary, and
20 members of the board of directors may be removed from their
21 positions by a unanimous vote of all other members.
22 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 15-58, is
23 amended to read as follows:
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Req. No. 11229 Page 3
1 Section 15-58. A. The executive board, with such committee as
2 may be selected from the county fair association, shall make an
3 estimate of the cost of the township and county fairs, and shall
4 certify such estimate to the county excise board in time to be acted
5 upon by the county excise board at its annual meeting for making tax
6 levies.
7 B. The items to be considered in the expenditure of funds shall
8 be for:
9 1. Premiums on livestock, poultry, agricultural and
10 horticultural products, dairy products, boys' and girls' club work,
11 products of domestic science and domestic arts, school exhibits,
12 hand painting, decorating and drawing, manufactured articles,
13 cultivated plants and flowers;
14 2. Necessary expenses of management of township and county
15 fairs organized under the provisions of this article, including
16 office expenses, postage, telegraph and telephone, digital and
17 electronic communication, Internet and supporting equipment, salary
18 and traveling expenses of the secretary, printing and necessary
19 office supplies, premium ribbons and badges, clerical help, guards,
20 superintendents and judges;
21 3. Advertising the fairs and for decorating and cleaning the
22 grounds and buildings, and for caring for the grounds and buildings;
23 and
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1 4. Transportation and arrangement of township fair exhibits at
2 the county fair and county fair exhibits at the Oklahoma State Fair
3 and other State Fairs.
4 SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 15-70, is
5 amended to read as follows:
6 Section 15-70. A. The county commissioners, the county excise
7 board and all other proper officers of the county may make an annual
8 levy upon all taxable property in the county in an amount not to
9 exceed one-half (1/2) of one (1) mill per annum in counties of more
10 than fifteen thousand (15,000) population. In counties of less than
11 fifteen thousand (15,000) population, the proper officers of the
12 county may make an annual levy upon all taxable property in the
13 county of not exceeding one (1) mill per annum. The purpose of the
14 levy is to raise funds for:
15 1. The support and maintenance of the fair, including the
16 payment of premiums on livestock, poultry, agricultural and
17 horticultural products, dairy products, boys' and girls' club work
18 or other junior agricultural organizations which shall be in one
19 class, products of domestic science and domestic arts, farm women's
20 clubs, hand paintings, cultivated plants and flowers;
21 2. Necessary expenses of management of said fair, including
22 office expenses, postage, telegraph and telephone, digital and
23 electronic communication, Internet and supporting equipment, salary
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1 and traveling expenses of the secretary, printing and necessary
2 office supplies;
3 3. Premium ribbons and badges, clerical help, guards,
4 superintendents and judges;
5 4. Advertising, decorating and cleaning the grounds and
6 buildings; and
7 5. The repair of or erecting buildings owned and controlled by
8 said county that are or will be used for free fair purposes.
9 B. In the counties of this state having a population in excess
10 of fifty-five thousand (55,000), according to the 1940 Federal
11 Decennial Census and in which county there is not authorized a state
12 fair, it shall be the mandatory duty of the county commissioners and
13 the excise board and other officers of the county, to make annual
14 levy for the purposes specified by this section upon all taxable
15 property in such county of not less than one-fourth (1/4) of one (1)
16 mill per annum.
17 SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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19 60-1-11229 MJ 01/14/25
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Req. No. 11229 Page 6Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.