Press Releases

State Sen. Kim David has won committee approval for a measure to expand Oklahoma’s Child Abuse Response Team (CART) program. First launched in 2005, the concept was to utilize investigators who were highly trained in investigating child abuse, including forensic interviews of children and case development for prosecution, to oversee and coordinate the investigation of such cases.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the passage of Senate Bill 1062, the Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act, in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation was passed on an 8-2 vote and now heads to a floor vote before the full Senate.
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The Senate Agriculture Committee approved legislation Monday to allow citizens more flexibility in selling certain products made in the home directly to consumers. Senate Bill 920, by Sen. Ron Justice, would create the Oklahoma Cottage Food Law.
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Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement after Tuesday’s State Equalization Board meeting. According to the final certification, slightly more than $7 billion in revenue will be available for state budgeting in fiscal year 2014, which represents an increase of $212.6 million over fiscal year 2013.
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The Senate Finance Committee has given approval to legislation that would ultimately lower the state income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 4.75 percent. The measure was approved on a nine to three vote on Tuesday. Senate Bill 585 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, would be fully effective in tax year 2015.
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The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would help the state retain and attract major events. Senate Bill 976 would expand the number of events that qualify under the Oklahoma Quality Events Incentive Act.

The Act gives communities a portion of any incremental sales tax increase generated by an event, for use in the recruitment, promotion and retention of high-value events.

Sen. Dan Newberry, author of SB 976, said expansion of the Quality Events Incentive Act would pump millions of dollars into the state’s economy. read more.

A bill aimed at cutting through red tape for military families seeking to enroll their children in a new school has passed its first test. Sen. Anthony Sykes is principal author of Senate Bill 759, the Deployed Parents School Act of 2013.
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Oklahoma’s adversarial workers’ compensation system will be replaced with an administrative system under a measure unveiled Monday in the Oklahoma state Senate. SB 1062, authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and co-authored by Senator Anthony Sykes, will be considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
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According to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children, congenital heart disease affects approximately seven to nine of every one thousand births in the nation. Current methods for detecting congenital heart defects find less than half of all cases which is why Sen. Kim David has filed Senate Bill 851 requiring pulse oximetry screening for newborns. The measure was approved unanimously Monday by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
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T. Boone Pickens and Gov. Mary Fallin unveil Picken's portrait along with sponsor Sen. James Halligan and artist Mike Wimmer
at a special art dedication Thursday in the Governor's Blue Room at the State Capitol.

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Joint Resolution 8 memorializing the President, Vice President and Congress to eliminate or reform specified aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The resolution passed along party lines with the only dissenting votes coming from two of the committee’s democrat members – Senator Constance N. Johnson and Senator Al McAffrey.
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Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, commended the Senate Business & Commerce Committee for passing SB 550, which will help Oklahoma consumers by legalizing "Black Friday" and other low-price sales. The bill passed on Thursday by a 5-2 vote.

Three senate committee chairmen have written a letter to President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley seeking to increase common education funding by $75 to $100 million for fiscal year 2014. Senators Jim Halligan, Chairman of the Education Subcommittee, John Ford, Chairman of Education, and Mike Mazzei, Finance Chairman, said after meeting with local school superintendents and State Superintendent Janet Barresi, they are convinced increased education funding must be the top priority when writing the 2014 budget.
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Legislation that would bar the use of foreign law in Oklahoma courts was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Senate Bill 1015 states that courts shall not enforce any foreign law as a means of mitigating punishment or providing justification for the commission of a crime.

Sen. Dan Newberry, author of the bill, said that by approving the measure, the Senate was affirming the importance of the rule of law in Oklahoma courts.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation Tuesday that would provide liability protection for Oklahoma’s agritourism professionals. Under Senate Bill 931, by Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Scott Biggs, agritourism professionals would not be liable for any participant injuries or deaths resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities as long as a warning is posted prominently on the premises.
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The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services today gave unanimous approval to legislation that would ban the use of welfare cash cards at strip clubs, casinos, and liquor stores.

Senate Bill 667, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, would ensure that funds provided through programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are used to provide meaningful help for families who need it most.
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On Thursday, Sen. Harry Coates sent a letter to Gov. Mary Fallin requesting a performance audit of the State Insurance Commission. The Republican senator feels that the information is necessary in determining if expenditures being made by the agency conform with state statutes as well as if they are being used for the manner intended by the Legislature and Ethics Commission.
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Sen. Anthony Sykes has won approval for legislation targeting individuals who cause fatal fires as a result of cooking methamphetamine. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously for Senate Bill 942, ensuring those responsible for such deaths can be charged with first degree murder.
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The Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday released their agenda for the 2013 legislative session. Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said this agenda represents Senate Republicans continued focus on the economy, education, and infrastructure.
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Three states – Arkansas, Arizona and Louisiana – have legalized covenant marriage, and Sen. Josh Brecheen wants to do the same in Oklahoma in an effort to lower the state’s high divorce rate. Senate Bill 105 was approved unanimously Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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