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New law to allow Oklahomans first real 'Black Friday'

You get up at hours before dawn and trudge bleary eyed to the big box store in pajama pants and fuzzy slippers.

You do it because you're certain those day after Thanksgiving prices are the best you can possibly get, right?

Nope, not in Oklahoma, at least not until this year.

Senate Bill 550 will soon allow Oklahoma retailers to set whatever price they like for items. While that may sound like common sense, it hasn’t always been the case.

A previous law passed in 1941 mandated that Oklahoma businesses sell products for at least six percent more than they paid for it.

That meant even deep sales like “Black Friday” were subject to the rules.

As of November 1st, that will be a thing of the past.

“It’s unfortunately rare that we get to put money back in the pockets of Oklahomans, but that is what this new law does,” Oklahoma City Republican State Senator David Holt said. Holt co-authored the new law along with Republican Rep. Tom Newell from Seminole.

Holt continued. “It means Oklahomans will enjoy the same low prices as consumers in 48 other states, and their hard-earned dollars will go farther this Christmas.”

Under the new measure retailers can sell products at any price below their cost up to 15 days in a row on a specific product, up to 10 times a year.

A few items like groceries, drugs, gas, and lumber will still be subject to the old law.

Research showed only Oklahoma and Wisconsin had laws as restrictive as the old one.

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