OKLAHOMA HOUSE APPROVES CNG REGULATION LEGISLATION

The Oklahoma House has given final approval of legislation (HB 3297) that transfers regulatory authority for CNG fueling stations to the Department of Labor. The House voted 69-19 Monday for the Senate-passed measure, and sent it to Gov. Mary Fallin to be signed into law. Currently, three state agencies share responsibility for regulating CNG fueling stations. The measure by Rep. Leslie Osborn of Mustang transfers authority for regulation of the fueling stations to the Labor Department. Osborn says that will make the regulatory process more efficient. Also included in the bill is a reduction in the tax credit for clean- burning motor vehicle purchases, which includes vehicles powered by natural gas, from 50 percent of the vehicle’s cost to 45 percent. The bill can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/1jvXJse.