The House of Representatives passed a measure aimed at encouraging more doctors to practice in rural areas of the state.

House Bill 2511, by House Speaker Charles McCall, would reduce a doctor’s tax liability by up to $25,000 annually if he or she practices in a rural community for the tax year beginning in 2020. The bill defines rural communities as any municipality with a population of less than 25,000 and that is also located at least 25 miles from the nearest municipality with a population greater than 25,000.

The bill would limit the exemption only to doctors who practice in a rural area as defined and who graduated from a medical or osteopathic school in Oklahoma. The doctor must also reside in the same county where the qualifying income was earned. A doctor could claim the exemption for up to five years. The exemption would end once a total of $1 million was claimed statewide.

House Bill 2511 passed out of the House by a vote of 98-2.