Veterans Preference

In establishing employment lists of eligible persons for competitive and noncompetitive appointment, certain preferences shall be allowed for veterans honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United State[74:840-4.14(A)].

1. Five points shall be added to the final grade of any person who has passed the examination and has submitted proof of having status as a:
   A. veteran [74:840-4.14(A)(1)]; or
   B. surviving spouse (not remarried) of a veteran [74:840-4.14(A)(1)]; or
   C. spouse of a veteran who is unemployable due to a service-connected disability as certified by the Veterans Administration or agency of the Defense Department within six (6) months of the date of application [74:840-4.14(A)(2)].
2. Ten points shall be added to the final grade of any war veteran as defined in Section 67.13a of  Title 72 of the Oklahoma Statutes who has passed the examination and has submitted proof of having a service-connected disability as certified by the Veterans Administration or Agency of the Defense Department within six (6) months of date of application [74:840-4.14(A)(3)].
3.  In addition to the 10 points preference provided in (2) of this subsection, such eligible war veterans who are in receipt of benefits payable at the rate of 30% or more because of the service-connected disability, shall be considered Absolute Preference Veterans. Their names shall be placed at the top of the register, ranked in order of their examination scores. Absolute Preference Veterans shall not be denied employment and passed over for others without showing cause. [74:840-4.14(A)(3)]

Direct Hire Authority 530:10-9-111 and 10-9-112 [74:840-4.13(C)]. Applicants for LPN, RN, and Nurse Manager positions may apply directly to the veterans centers.

Special Disabled Veterans 530:10-9-100  Veterans with 30% or more service-connected disability may be hired directly at this agency, in accordance with the “Persons with Severe Disabilities Program”, [74:840-1.15] and Senate Bill 200. This program provides exemption from entrance exams and other hiring procedures. A one-year probationary period applies.

Noncompetitive Appointments 530:10-9-95  Appointing Authorities who have classes of positions of unskilled or semi-skilled labor, or similar classes designated by the Administrator as noncompetitive, may appoint qualified veterans or non-veterans in accordance with 530:10-9-71 and 530:10-9-92.

Oklahoma Cross of Valor

Any person having the following qualifications is hereby authorized to apply for, receive, and display a certain badge or medal, to be known as “The Oklahoma Cross of Valor”:

• Was a resident of Oklahoma at the time of entering the military service of the United States;
• The military service referred to in (1) above, was performed during either World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Republic of Vietnam Conflict, or during any period of time in which the United States participated in a war, campaign or battle.
• Was made and officially listed as captive by the enemy during the service mentioned in (2) above; and
• Was honorably discharged from the military service.

License Plates & Driver License

Military/Veteran License Plates

The Oklahoma Tax Commission issues many official special license plates for Oklahoma Veterans.

Special license plates shall not be transferred to any other person but shall be removed from the vehicle upon transfer of ownership and retained.  The special license plate may then be used on another vehicle but only after such other vehicle has been registered for the current year with a motor license agent.

The Commission shall take applications by October 1 of each year for the following calendar year for special license plates and shall issue such plates to each applicant.

Free License & Renewal for 100% Disabled Military/Veteran

Pursuant to Title 47 O.S. § 6-101 P. No person who has been honorably discharged from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or Oklahoma National Guard and who has been certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor, or the Armed Forces of the United States to be a disabled veteran in receipt of compensation at the one-hundred-percent rate for a permanent disability sustained through military action or accident resulting from disease contracted while in such active service shall be charged a fee for the issuance or renewal of an Oklahoma driver license.

Tax Exemptions

Property Tax

Oklahoma law creates an exemption for certain Veterans from property tax. The exemption applies to certain injured veterans and surviving spouse of those veterans. The exemption would be for the full fair cash value of the homestead. Eligibility requirements include:

Honorably discharged from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma resident

100% permanent disabled-service connected

Disability must have been sustained through military action or accident, or result from a disease contracted while in active service

The disability must be certified by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA can help you obtain this certification letter)

Oklahoma Income Tax

One hundred percent (100%) of income received as salary or compensation in any form by an Oklahoma resident as a member of any component of the Armed Forces of the United States can be deducted from taxable income.  The Oklahoma Tax Commission has the authority to grant an extension to any member of the United States Armed Forces when filing is impractical or impossible.  See 68 O.S. 2358, E(5)(b).

Exemption For Sales Tax

Sales of tangible personal property or services to persons who are residents of Oklahoma and have been honorably discharged from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or Oklahoma National Guard and who have been certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor to be in receipt of disability compensation at the one-hundred-percent rate and the disability shall be permanent and have been sustained through military action or accident or resulting from disease contracted while in such active service.

Exemption For Retirement Benefits

Retirement benefits received by an individual from any component of the Armed Forces of the U.S. shall be exempt from taxable income in an amount not to exceed the greater of 75% of such benefits or $10,000.

Admission to State Parks

All honorably discharged veterans who are currently Oklahoma residents shall be allowed free admission to all state-owned or state–operated parks and museums. A valid Oklahoma driver license or state photo identification card and military discharge papers (DD Form 214) or similar evidence of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces shall be required for free admission.

Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Free hunting and fishing permit for legal resident veterans having a disability of sixty percent (60%) or more exempt from the Wildlife Land Stamp requirements;

Legal residents having proper certification from the USDVA or its successor certifying that the person is a disabled veteran may purchase a disability lifetime combination hunting/fishing license. The fees for the license are:

• $200 for veterans having a disability of LESS THAN 60%;

and $25.00 for veterans having a disability of 60% OR MORE.  (The $25.00 license provides some additional tags not included in the free permit for veterans with a 60% or more certified disability.)

Persons with proper certification from the USDVA or its successor, certifying that the person is a disabled veteran in receipt of compensation at the 100% rate are exempt from the fees for:

• the DEER GUN HUNTING License;
• the DEER ARCHERY HUNTING License;
• the PRIMITIVE FIREARMS License;
• BONUS, SPECIAL, OR SECOND DEER GUN HUNTING License

There shall be no exemptions except for residents sixty-four (64) years of age or older provided such residents have obtained a senior citizen’s license pursuant to the provisions of Section 4-133 of this title.

Legal resident veterans having a disability of 60% or more are exempt from the Wildlife Land Stamp requirements.