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The Senate has approved a measure that would modify the calculation of sales tax applied to vehicles.

When a vehicle is purchased under current law, a sales tax of 1.25 percent is levied on the full price of the car. Senate Bill 1619, authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, would modify this calculation so the sales tax would be based on the difference between the actual sales price of a vehicle and the value of a trade-in, if applicable. This tax calculation is used in 38 states.

Home-based bakeries and other types of food businesses are one step closer to being able to continue growing their small business without having to rent or buy a commercial property. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said he authored Senate Bill 1714 to allow these types of small business owners the freedom to decide when they are ready to move into a larger commercial location rather than the state forcing them.

There are currently nearly 2,000 U.S. children under the age of 18 on the national transplant waiting list.  The Senate passed Senate Bill 1359 late Tuesday to give Oklahoma judges the power to possibly save some of those children.  Under the measure, if a court has to make the decision to withdraw life sustaining treatment of a child in state custody based upon the attending physician’s recommendation, then the judge has the authority to authorize anatomical gifts. 

The Senate has given full approval to legislation that will provide for state licensure of midwives.  Senate Bill 1823 creates “Shepherd’s Law,” by Sen. Brenda Stanley.  The bill was approved by a wide margin and with bipartisan support on Wednesday, 41 to 5.

Stanley, a Midwest City Republican Senator and former teacher and principal, said she named the bill after the newborn son of a former student, Lecye Doolen, who lost her baby the day after a planned home delivery that went terribly wrong. 

The Senate has approved Senate Bill 1388, which would sweeten the pot for urban gardeners to raise honeybees by giving tax exempt status to bee products sold at farmers markets across the state.   

Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, said she authored the bill after a food desert in west Tulsa led her to look at alternative ways her constituents could access fresh produce.

The full Senate has approved legislation raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.  Sen. Greg McCortney is the author of Senate Bill 1423, aligning state law with the federal Tobacco-Free Youth Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in December, which prohibits the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.

McCortney, R-Ada, said it was important to make sure Oklahoma’s statutes mirror the new federal law.

State Sen. James Leewright has won unanimous approval in the Senate for Senate Bill 1739, the “Barbara E. Hoover Act,” protecting the use of video monitoring in assisted living centers.  The legislation, which was approved Tuesday, ensures all continuum of care facility residents have the same rights as nursing home residents.

More than 1,500 students were stranded for several hours at schools across Mississippi last August after a federal immigration sweep of local businesses led to the arrest of nearly 700 undocumented citizens. To avoid such a possible traumatic incident for Oklahoma students, Oklahoma City Public Schools requested Senate Bill 1711 to create the Oklahoma Standby Guardianship Act.  The bill by Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma, was approved Tuesday by the Senate. 

Legislation to help more Oklahoma students be career ready after graduation    unanimously passed off the Senate Floor Tuesday.  Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is the author of Senate Bill 1532, which will allow sophomores age 16 and older to participate in the Apprenticeships, Internships and Mentorships Act of 2016.

The House will next consider legislation clarifying cities’ and counties’ authority to regulate the smoking and vaping of medical marijuana in public places.  Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, is the author of Senate Bill 1296, which he says is needed to clear up confusion as to where citizens can use their medical products.  The bill passed out of the Senate Monday afternoon.