(KTEN) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed five bills into law Tuesday that expand benefits to veterans and their families.

One of the new laws extends the same sales tax exemption to surviving unmarried partners of military personnel who died in the line of duty. Another law provides total income tax exemption on military retirement benefits.

The Republican governor said he hopes the changes will offer an incentive for veterans to stay in the Sooner State.

"We found out that some folks were leaving and going down to Texas or Florida with those retirement benefits," Stitt said. "So we wanted to eliminate the tax on retirement benefits."

Stitt is running for a second term in the November 8 election. His Democratic challenger is Joy Hofmeister, currently serving as the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction.