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The full Senate has given its approval to legislation modifying Oklahoma’s Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA). Senate Bill 630, by Senate Education Chair John Ford and Rep. Dennis Casey, was approved Friday unanimously.

“The most important thing we needed to do this year was fully fund our schools. But, yet again, we didn’t do that. We’re still kicking the can down the road when it comes to funding our schools appropriately.

“The teachers and parents who rallied here this Spring weren’t here to say, ‘You’re doing a great job! Keep doing what you’re doing!’ They came here to say, ‘Do your job! You’re not doing enough! We need help!’ But once again, the Republicans didn’t listen.

The Senate on Friday completed the first session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature one week ahead of schedule.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said the session included numerous important achievements, including the following:

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman on Thursday issued the following statement regarding the passage of House Bill 2237, which would authorize a $25 million bond to complete the museum facility, end the state’s ongoing appropriations for operations, and divest the state of the property.

Oklahoma’s reserve law enforcement officers would be required to complete additional CLEET certified training each year under a new bill passed in the Senate on Thursday morning, according to the bill’s author, Sen. Ralph Shortey.
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Oklahoma’s reserve law enforcement officers would be required to complete additional CLEET certified training each year under a new bill passed in the Senate on Thursday morning, according to the bill’s author, Sen. Ralph Shortey.
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The full Senate has given final approval to legislation that will end the five-year ad valorem tax exemption for new wind farms beginning January 1, 2017. Senate Bill 498, by Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville, was approved unanimously on Friday. Mazzei said the bill will ultimately save approximately $500 million over ten years.
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Oklahoma’s first African American State Senator and civil rights leader, E. Melvin Porter, was recognized on Wednesday afternoon in the Senate chamber with a resolution authored by Sens. Anastasia Pittman, David Holt and Kevin Matthews. Senate Resolution 36 was presented on the Senate floor to Porter, who was accompanied by his family.
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