The Oklahoma House on Tuesday approved House Bill 1376, a bill requested by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance to change the alliance's board structure and related statutory language, and the chamber voted to make the measure effective immediately.

Representative Russell Bowles, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the measure would restructure the alliance's board and statute to meet current needs. Bowles moved adoption and later moved final passage with an emergency clause attached.

Why it matters: The alliance administers federal‑state training funds used to subsidize manufacturing workforce training. During floor questions, lawmakers pressed the sponsor on the alliance's reliance on federal matching dollars and what would happen if those federal funds decreased.

Representative Deck asked whether the bill would help address concerns about federal funding for the alliance. Representative Bowles replied, “Yes, it does. So currently the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance receives about $1.8 million a year.”

Deck followed up about the structure of the federal match. Bowles answered, “That is correct,” confirming the alliance’s federal grants have been matched on a one‑to‑one basis and saying the current federal source is the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He added that state funding partners include OCAST (the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology) and the Department of Commerce and that local employers currently subsidize training where necessary.

Bowles acknowledged uncertainty about future federal allocations but said the purpose of the statutory changes is to bring the alliance into compliance so it remains eligible for federal opportunities if they continue. “This bill request was needed prior to the administration changing parties,” he said, adding that the changes are intended to preserve future eligibility rather than to guarantee future federal funds.

The House then voted on final passage. The chair declared the bill passed and later stated the roll‑call tally as recorded: Yes 87, No 14. Because the sponsor moved that the vote on the bill also be the vote on the emergency clause and no objection was recorded, the House declared the emergency provision adopted with the two‑thirds threshold met.

What happens next: With final passage and the emergency clause attached, the measure takes effect immediately and proceeds to the next steps required under legislative procedure.