Oklahoma City, OK – Rep. Nick Archer has introduced legislation aimed at positioning Oklahoma to compete for a future U.S. national laboratory and other major federal research centers.
House Bill 3176 would create the Oklahoma Gas, Artificial Intelligence, and Space Research Hub, known as the GAS Hub. The hub would serve as a statewide coordinating entity linking state agencies, higher education, and private industry to prepare Oklahoma for large-scale federal research opportunities. The GAS Hub would be housed within the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Archer said the bill is not tied to a single project but is designed to build organizational readiness. The framework would focus on federal engagement, site evaluation, workforce alignment, and long-term competitiveness.
The Elk City Republican said the effort could lead to high-paying technical jobs, expanded opportunities for CareerTech graduates and university researchers, and economic growth in both rural and urban parts of the state.
National laboratories, Archer said, operate as long-term economic engines. He pointed to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which contributes more than $7 billion annually to Tennessee’s economy, as an example of the sustained impact such facilities can have.
As chair of the House Energy Committee, Archer emphasized that Oklahoma’s strength in energy and aerospace aligns closely with national security and supply chain priorities. He said that alignment could make the state a strong candidate for future laboratories if a formal framework is in place.
The bill also establishes the Oklahoma National Laboratory Development Program. That program would identify and prepare potential sites by aligning workforce pipelines and assembling infrastructure and incentives needed to attract federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, and the U.S. Department of War.
Archer cited recent economic analysis showing Oklahoma has fallen behind peer states in advanced industries, calling it a sign the state needs a more coordinated, long-term strategy for attracting intellectual property and development capital.
House Bill 3176 includes annual reporting requirements to state leadership to ensure transparency and accountability. If approved by lawmakers and signed into law, the measure would take effect Nov. 1, 2026.
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