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A bill to give victims of rape and domestic violence greater economic protection won’t be heard this session after the House failed to vote on the measure by their April 21 deadline for committee action on Senate bills. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich said while she and other supporters were deeply disappointed, they were not surprised.
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Leaders of both chambers of the state Legislature today announced a bipartisan agreement that outlines a framework for the state’s budget for the next fiscal year. The agreement now allows subcommittees of the General Conference Committee on Appropriations to move forward in working out the details of a final budget.

State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, said he was confident a measure giving tax exemptions to organizations that help feed Oklahoma’s needy citizens will make it all the way to Gov. Brad Henry. Jolley said the measure is extremely important to organizations like Edmond’s Hope Center. Jolley is Senate principal author of the measure, while Rep. Ken Miller, R-Edmond is principal author in the House.
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A transportation measure that will provide millions in much-needed funding for Oklahoma's roadways and bridges passed the Senate today. House Bill 1218, authored by Rep. Jim Newport, R-Ponca City, and Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, will increase funding for the State Highway and Construction Maintenance Fund to $170 million over a five-year period beginning July 1, 2005. The monies will come from growth in car license tag fees.
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Senator Debbe Leftwich announced today that House Bill 1653, the Graduated Drivers License Act, cleared the full Senate. The measure will provide teenage drivers with more time to develop their driving skills and learn in a low risk setting.

The Democrat from South Oklahoma City co-authored the legislation with Representative Danny Morgan, a Prague Democrat. Senator Leftwich stated that the measure follows in the footsteps of her late husband, Keith Leftwich, who brought the issue of a graduated driver’s license to the forefront.

A bill to encourage the processing, market development and research of alternative fuels derived from agriculture products such as grain was signed into law Tuesday. SB 363, authored by Sen. Robert Kerr, D-Altus, and Rep. Dale DeWitt, R-Braman, creates the Oklahoma Biofuels Development Act.
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The full State Senate has approved a bill to give Oklahoma consumers greater protection when they purchase gift cards from retailers. HB 1986, by Rep. Terry Ingmire, R-Stillwater and Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, would ensure that gift cards could be redeemed for their full value for up to five years after the time of purchase.
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A bill to provide tax credits for producers of ethanol in the State of Oklahoma passed the Senate Monday afternoon. House Bill 1556, authored by Sen. David Myers and Rep. Mike Jackson, will encourage companies to build ethanol facilities in the state.

Under provisions of the bill, an ethanol plant could not be eligible for tax credits until the plant had been operating for six months at 25-percent of capacity.
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A bill to encourage people to enter physician assistant education programs and to practice in Oklahoma's rural and medically underserved areas won unanimous approval in the State Senate today.

House Bill 1411 establishes the Physician Assistant Scholarship Program, which will be supported through a revolving fund created for and administered by the Physician Manpower Training Commission. The measure was authored by Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, and Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada.
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A portrait of Mrs. Lamar Looney, the first woman ever elected to serve in the Oklahoma State Senate, was unveiled during a ceremony in the State Senate Chamber on Tuesday.

The painting is the latest in a series of historical paintings, a project by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. The portrait is sponsored by the 2005 Senate Women’s Caucus, Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, the Rural Women’s Business Center and the Family of Mrs. Lamar Looney. The painting was done by Norman, Oklahoma artist Mike Wimmer. read more.