OKC's key advocacy wins in 2024

In 2024, Oklahoma City saw significant advancements in advocacy across key sectors, including tourism funding, government relations and education reform, positioning the city for continued growth. 

For tourism, the Promote OKC initiative, spearheaded by the Chamber, helped increase Oklahoma City’s new hotel tax rate from 5.5% to 9.25%. This increase is expected to generate nearly $11.6 million annually, allocated as follows: 

• 75% tourism promotion 
• 13.3% event sponsorships 
• 6.7% OKC Fairgrounds 
• 5% OKC Convention Center 

The Chamber’s Government Relations team successfully advocated for the business community during the 2024 legislative session, achieving several key successes: 

• Helped protect key economic development incentives to recruit companies and help them grow. 
• Advanced Commerce Department Reform efforts and secured $10 million for Business Recruitment and $20 million for Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund. 
• Engaged in “Oklahomans for Business and Property Owners’ Rights Coalition,” successfully blocking troublesome gun-related measures. 
• Secured funding for common education (K-12) and preserved the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OKPNA) student survey. 
• Protected funding for ODOT’s 8-year construction plan for projects in Oklahoma City. 

Although the Chamber’s FAA legislation did not advance, federal funding for the Mike Monroney Center was secured. The Chamber PAC also had a successful year, with an 85%-win rate in 45 of 53 races and a 100%-win rate in the 2024 general elections, ensuring more pro-business candidates will serve in the legislature. 

The Chamber’s Director of Education Rhonda Baker passed the new Graduation Requirements law in 2024, when she was a legislator. The updated requirements will better prepare students for their future. While maintaining the same number of required courses, the law ensures these are more relevant and rigorous. It also increases the required math credits to four and introduces "pathway units," offering students a more tailored high school experience to better prepare them for college, careers or military service.