Press Releases

Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Tommy Hardin are urging anyone who suffered damage to homes, businesses or other personal property as a result of the storms and flooding from May 5 to June 4, as well as the most recent round of heavy rains and flooding that began last week, to file a report with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as soon as possible.  

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman released the following statement Thursday in response to the United States Supreme Courts decision in King v. Burwell:
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OKLAHOMA CITY Senate Democratic Leader Randy Bass, D-Lawton, today released the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Courts decision in King v. Burwell:

The Affordable Care Act is far from perfect, but it is working. The subsidies are helping more than 87,000 Oklahomans access quality, affordable health coverage. But we can, and must, do more for hard working Oklahomans and their families.
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Oklahoma’s students are getting better prepared for jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) thanks to legislation passed during the 2014 legislative session. Senate Bill 1181, which became law on August 22, 2014, put into effect some of the recommendations of Gov. Fallin’s Science and Technology Council to improve workforce development by strengthening STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programs in Oklahoma.
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Gov. Fallin recently held a ceremonial signing of House Bill 1074, also known as the Right-to-Try Act, by Rep. Richard Morrissette and Sen. Rob Standridge. The new law, which goes into effect November 1, 2015, will allow terminally-ill patients, who have received approval from their physician, access to investigational medications, biological products or devices that have completed Food and Drug Administration phase one safety testing and remain under an approved investigation.
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A bill requiring schools to report if a teacher is fired due to criminal activities was signed into law on Wednesday, according to the bill’s author, Senator John Sparks, D-Norman.
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Community leaders, parents, teachers, homeschool educators, and other interested groups are invited to attend an educational think tank meeting next week designed to discuss and define the vision of the curriculum in Oklahoma schools. The event, hosted by Sen. Anastasia A. Pittman and Rep. George Young, will be held at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City on June 18 at 3pm.

Discussion will primarily focus on three areas, including:
Identification of priority issues relating to diversity, inclusion and curriculum; read more.

Two doctors currently serving in the Oklahoma Legislature are authors of a new law aimed at raising awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Unlike a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, sudden cardiac arrest is triggered by an electrical malfunction that causes the heart to simply stop beating. Death occurs within minutes if a victim doesnt receive treatment.
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Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law Senate Bill 312, which consolidates local election dates to either one cycle in the spring or one cycle in the fall. This follows the successful adoption of other proposals championed by Sen. David Holt (R-Oklahoma City) to encourage higher voter turnout after dramatic recent declines.
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A measure intended to update and clarify Oklahoma’s existing car seat law, making it easier for parents and caregivers to understand the best and safest way to restrain their child in their vehicle, was signed into law on Friday by Governor Mary Fallin.

“We know that in Oklahoma alone, the number of children who died or were seriously injured in car accidents could have been cut in half with the proper use of child restraint systems,” said Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton. Bass is the Senate author of the measure.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The State Senate has confirmed the executive nomination of Carol Carver of Elk City to serve on the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission, according to State Senator Darcy Jech. 

            Carver, an Elk City tag agent, has served on the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission since 2009 and is currently serving as the acting chairperson.