Committee advances bill allowing counties to obtain p-cards from local banks

Senators voted to advance legislation that would let county purchasing agents obtain purchase‑card services through local banks, offering counties an alternative to the current statewide provider.

Senator Reinhart, sponsor of Senate Bill 2,135, told the committee the measure would authorize counties to use local banks as p‑card providers in addition to the existing Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) program, which currently uses Bank of America. He said counties could thereby recoup the full rebate that some banks provide and maintain more local control over their p‑card arrangements.

The bill was amended to add procurement guardrails requested by the state auditor’s office. The amendment—read by the clerk and explained by Reinhart—requires that boards of county commissioners may solicit sealed bids from qualified financial institutions and states that the contract shall be awarded in a public meeting to the proposal “providing the greatest overall benefit to the county.” Reinhart said the language mirrors existing OMES provisions and was added after interim discussions with the state auditor to avoid noncompliance.

Senator Goodwin questioned why bids would remain sealed if the award occurs in public and pressed on the $5,000 per‑transaction ceiling and the clause permitting a county purchasing agent to set a different limit. Reinhart and Tulsa County official David Tackett explained that sealed bid submissions with public award are common procurement practice, that Title 19 contains more detailed competitive‑bidding guardrails, and that the bill aligns with the “fair and reasonable acquisition” thresholds already referenced in statute.

The committee recorded a roll‑call vote of 10 ayes and 0 nays; the chair declared SB 2,135 advanced.

The next procedural step is that SB 2,135 will proceed as advanced by the committee.