Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past several weeks, central Love County has experienced numerous earthquakes.  These tremors have ranged in magnitude from 1.8 to 3.2 on the Richter scale and there have been reports of property damage throughout the area.

Personnel from the Oklahoma Geological Survey have been on site installing monitoring equipment to collect data and determine the cause and source of the tremors.  As of Monday, there has been no definitive conclusion.

Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, released the following statement in response to Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling allowing plans to build a new state Medical Examiner’s Office on the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus to proceed. A loss of the office’s accreditation in 2009 was in part attributed to an outdated building that is too small and antiquated.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Tuesday, Sen. Ron Sharp visited several schools in his Senate District to celebrate Constitution Day with local students.   The former history and government teacher said he enjoyed getting back in the classroom. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on today’s filing of a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 1062, the workers’ compensation overhaul bill passed this year:

“The workers’ compensation legislation passed this year is landmark reform that has been needed for quite some time. Our state’s workers’ compensation rates are out of control, and it is impacting economic development and job creation in our state.

On Tuesday, Sen. Harry Coates (R-Seminole) joined Rep. Emily Virgin (D-Norman) and the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma in filing a challenge against the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1062, the workers’ compensation reform bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Fallin during the 2013 legislative session.

For the fourth year, Sen. Constance N. Johnson is teaming up with the Office Depot Foundation to provide sackpacks and school supplies to a local elementary school. This year’s recipient will be Dove Science Academy Elementary School. The sackpacks will be provided as part of the Foundation’s 2013 National Backpack Program in partnership with the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL). The presentation will be made on Friday, September 13 from 1:30-2:30pm at Dove Academy located at 4901 N. Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City.

Members of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services this week examined whether the state may have an opportunity to reduce Oklahomas high divorce rate through policies that encourage families to stay together.

Requested by Sen. Rob Standridge, the study focused on strategies designed to lessen the social and economic costs of divorce. Standridge said reducing the states divorce rate would give children a better chance at life-long stability, while saving taxpayer dollars.

About 300 to 400 Oklahoma children in state custody age out each year when they turn 18many are unprepared for this sudden transition. On Thursday the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held the first of two hearings examining how rules and procedures impact children in state custody, as well as looking at the issue of homeless teens in Oklahoma.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman released the following statement upon the conclusion of the special session on Monday:

“Oklahoma has economic momentum right now that must continue. Our economy is growing, our unemployment rate is among the lowest in the nation and businesses are taking note. This special session was needed to end the legal chaos created by the June Supreme Court ruling, striking down critical lawsuit reform passed in 2009.

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold an interim study on reducing the divorce rate in Oklahoma. Sen. Rob Standridge, vice-chair of the committee, requested the study to examine how reducing the divorce rate can help the state’s children succeed while saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
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Sen. Jabar Shumate and Rep. Kevin Matthews, Vice Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, issued the following statements concerning Friday’s announcement that Insure Oklahoma has received a one-year extension from the federal government.

Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage issued the following comments in response to Gov. Mary Fallin’s announcement that Insure Oklahoma would receive a one year extension from the federal government.

“We are pleased and relieved to see that tens of thousands of hard-working Oklahomans won’t be forced to lose their health insurance at the end of this year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement Thursday in response to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) filing an overall workers compensation premium level decrease for the state, as a result of the Legislature’s approval of comprehensive workers’ compensation reforms this year.
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Senator Tom Ivester, D-Sayre, issued the following comments at the close of the second day of the legislature’s special session to readdress tort reform: