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OKLAHOMA CITY – The governor signed two bills into law this week to help provide better mental health services for Oklahoma’s law enforcement members and their families. Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, said she authored the bills after hosting an interim study last fall where law enforcement officials from various agencies around the state shared about the ever-growing mental health needs in the public safety community.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A commission of top state law enforcement and state officials will soon be convened following the signing of Senate Bill 371 this week. Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, is the author the measure creating the Unified State Law Enforcement Commission to consider ways to unify the state’s three public safety agencies to increase efficiency and better serve the public.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation to protect the sales tax exemption provided to Oklahoma’s 100% disabled veterans was signed into law Wednesday. Senate Bill 415’s author, Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, who serves as the chair of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, said the bill was desperately needed to stop the fraudulent use of the benefit for Oklahoma’s heroes.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma is now among those states officially calling for an Article V Convention of the States.  Authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, and House Majority Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, Senate Joint Resolution 23 was approved by Gov. Stitt on Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given final approval to a bill ensuring payment parity for physicians who care for patients using telemedicine.  Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, is the principal Senate author of Senate Bill 674. The measure was approved on Thursday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – More elderly and frail inmates in Oklahoma’s prisons could soon qualify for medical parole under legislation signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 320, authored by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan,

will allow those offenders deemed medically frail or vulnerable to be considered for medical parole, also known as compassionate release.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two Senate bills to help manage huge spikes in energy costs after February’s historic winter storm will protect seniors, families, small businesses and Oklahoma’s economy.  That’s according to Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, chair of the Senate select committee created to study the issue.  Both Senate Bills 1049 and 1050 were recently signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two bills protecting the leave of state employees during governor-declared state emergencies are now law. Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, authored the bills after learning of the hundreds of hours of annual and compensatory leave accrued during the pandemic, and state employees not being able or allowed to take it by the end of the year.         

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to ensure Oklahomans are informed about the costs associated with a state question and where that funding could come from is now law.  Senate Bill 947, by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure to better protect victims of domestic violence from harassment through social media was approved Thursday in the Senate. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, is the principal Senate author of the measure and said House Bill 1007 is needed to bring victim protection laws in line with new technologies and communication platforms.