Bill to incentivize professional women’s sports in Oklahoma narrowly advances

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would put women’s professional sports on equal footing with men’s teams in accessing state funding opportunities on Wednesday narrowly secured Senate approval.

Senate Bill 820, by Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, seeks to incentivize women’s professional sports to locate in the state by expanding the Oklahoma Five Major Sports League Rebate Program.

The program, passed last year, offers tax incentives only to men’s professional sports teams that meet certain qualifications.

The Oklahoma City Thunder is the only team that is participating.

The bill would expand access to the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Women’s Professional Fastpitch softball league and the National Women’s Soccer League.

Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, who voted against the legislation, tried to tie the issue of allowing women’s teams to access the tax credit program to abortion and religious rights.

He asked if some of the affiliated women’s groups supported access to abortion and abortion pills. He also said that some women’s sports organizations are punishing people for their religious beliefs.

Boren said she was unable to verify Deevers’ claims.

“In Norman, we’ve seen how fan excitement and enthusiasm for women’s sports like softball, soccer, and basketball has really exploded in recent years, and our capital city is already home to a professional women’s softball team, the Oklahoma City Spark,” Boren said. “Any vision for professional sports in Oklahoma must include opportunities for women’s sports.”

The bill passed by a vote of 26-18. It takes 25 votes to pass a bill in the Senate.

The bill is now eligible for consideration in the House.

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