Press Releases

This coming Friday evening Norman North and Tulsa Union will battle for the state 6A-1 championship, the largest football class in Oklahoma.  The two state senators who represent those schools have made a friendly wager on which team will take the championship.  Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, will be cheering for Norman North, while Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, is betting Tulsa Union comes out on top.  The senator whose school is defeated will donate $100 to the winning school’s education foundation.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) recently named Sen. Kay Floyd as a 2016 Elected Women of Excellence Award winner.  The award was established in 2013 as part of NFWL’s 75th Anniversary Celebration in order to honor the hard work and dedication of women leaders from across the country.

Although Stephanie Bice is still in her first term in the Oklahoma State Senate, she’s been elevated to a key leadership role for the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions.  Bice has been elected by the Senate Republican Caucus to serve as Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the Senate.

Sen. Joseph Silk has started his next term after being officially sworn in during a special oath of office ceremony at the Capitol on Monday afternoon.  

“I am honored to be able to continue my service in the Senate on behalf the citizens of District 5,” said Silk.  “While we have many challenges ahead, we also have the opportunity to strengthen our public policies so that when our economy does rebound, Oklahoma will be ready to support that growth, which in turn will create jobs and build a better future for citizens.”

For the second year in a row, Sen. John Sparks (D-Norman) and Sen. Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City) have filed legislation to resolve Oklahoma’s ongoing non-compliance with the Real ID Act of 2005.

Julie Daniels is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 29.  The Bartlesville Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

Micheal Bergstrom is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 1.  The Adair Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

Business owner and former Ada Mayor Greg McCortney has taken his oath of office and begun his first term in the Oklahoma State Senate.  McCortney was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday. 

Twenty-five newly-elected and returning members of the Oklahoma State Senate were officially sworn in during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the Senate chamber. The oath of office was administered by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph M. Watt.

The 2004 Senate class includes 15 new members and 10 members who were re-elected. This marks one of the largest groups of new members in recent years, with 14 of those seats open during the election cycle due to the state’s constitutionally mandated term limits.
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Business owner, farmer and rancher, and former member of the House of Representatives James Leewright has taken his oath of office and begun his first term in the Oklahoma State Senate.  Leewright was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday.  He takes over the seat held by former Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman of Sapulpa, who was term-limited this year.

Sen. Wayne Shaw has officially begun his second term after being officially sworn in during a special oath of office ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday.  

“I am honored to be able to continue my service in the Senate on behalf the citizens of District 3,” Shaw said.  “While we have many challenges ahead, we also have the opportunity to strengthen our public policies so that when our economy does rebound, Oklahoma will be able to build on that growth, creating jobs and building a better future for citizens.”

Adam Pugh is now the official State Senator for District 41.  The Edmond Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

“I’m ready to get started with our work on the issues that are important to move Oklahoma forward, like education, the economy, public safety and all of the core services that are vital to the state,” Pugh said. “I’m grateful to the citizens of our district for believing in me and trusting me to be their voice at the State Capitol.”

Roland Pederson is officially the State Senator for District 19 after the Enid Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

“I am thankful to the good people of District 19 for trusting me to be their voice in the Senate,” Pederson said.  “I’m ready to get to work on legislation to help create more jobs for our district and our state, grow our economy and generate more resources to support education, public safety, and other core services.”

In a ceremony held on Oklahoma’s 109th birthday, 24 new and returning members of the Oklahoma State Senate were sworn into office at the Capitol Wednesday. Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, President of the Senate, presided over the ceremony. The oath was administered by the Honorable John Reif, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Senate Republicans have elected Mike Schulz as President Pro Tempore-designate of the Oklahoma State Senate. The Altus Republican is the first Pro Tempore from western Oklahoma in more than 50 years. Schulz will lead a historic Republican Caucus that includes 42 members, the largest majority held by either party since 1965, when the Senate went from 44 seats to 48 to assure equal representation for citizens across the state.

Outgoing Senate Finance Chairman Mike Mazzei addressed the Incentive Evaluation Commission Thursday in support of a report that examined the cost versus benefits of the state’s Zero Emission Facility tax credit. The PFM consulting group determined the cost significantly exceeds the benefits of the program, and recommends that the credit termination date should be accelerated.

When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, their life can change drastically. Those changes can be stressful, isolating, frightening and expensive. Its something Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, know about firsthand. Thompson currently serves as chair of the Legislatures Diabetes Caucus and Simpson serves as vice-chair. It was something both men wanted to do because of what their families have gone through after loved ones were diagnosed with diabetes
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OKLAHOMA CITY – A luncheon and ceremony commemorating the newly named J. Cooper West Memorial Highway was recently held in Elk City at the Portobello Grille.   State Senator Darcy Jech and Representative Todd Russ were both in attendance at the event.