A website post at the National Council of Nonprofits concurred, saying, “Representative Walker’s bill takes an important step toward possibly resolving a significant problem that the framework creates; he is to be commended for taking swift and decisive action in support of our communities.”

According to the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, the state has more than 18,000 charities to which Oklahomans donate about $2.5 billion each year. There are more than 4,000 charities in Oklahoma County alone, and almost that many in Tulsa County. The Indiana University study found that increasing the standard deduction and extending the charitable giving credit to those who don’t itemize would increase giving by about 2.5 percent; that would mean $62.5 million more for local nonprofits, and as state agency budgets continue to plummet, they’ve never needed the money more.