Press Releases

Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, Senate Health and Human Services Vice Chair
Greg McCortney, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, Senate Appropriations Chairman
Roger Thompson and Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Jason Smalley discuss prolife bill,
budget and criminal justice reform.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday to ensure young Oklahomans do not miss their first elections. Sen. Jason Smalley is the author of Senate Bill 496 to allow those who are at least 17.5 years old to pre-register to vote.

Currently, a 17-year-old can pre-register to vote 60 days before an election as long as they will turn 18 on or before election day. SB 496 will allow all Oklahomans to pre-register to vote at 17.5 years of age.
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The Senate General Government Committee approved legislation Thursday to improve fiscal transparency and accountability of Oklahoma’s state agencies. Senate Bill 177, by Sen. Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee), requires state agencies to provide on their website, or on a general website, certain financial information as prescribed by the State Auditor and Inspector and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
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It is estimated that around two million Purple Hearts have been awarded by the U.S. Military since World War I. Sen. Frank Simpson authored Senate Bill 232 to recognize Oklahoma’s 1,340 recipients by designating Oklahoma a Purple Heart State.

“So many Oklahomans have sacrificed life and limb for our country,” said Simpson, R-Springer. “We want to honor their service and sacrifice and ensure it’s never forgotten by designating Oklahoma a Purple Heart State.”
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The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a bill by Senators Roger Thompson and Wayne Shaw that would permit state agencies to enter into pay-for-success contracts with private entities if there is a public benefit to the state.

Senate Bill 210 sets out the conditions for pay-for-success funding models made between state agencies and private entities. Under the measure, pay-for-success contracts must identify performance targets and outcomes against which the program can be measured to determine quantifiable public benefits or monetary savings.
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Efforts have been made in the legislature in recent years to improve access and make voting easier for Oklahomans. The Senate passed another bill this week that will allow employees more flexibility in voting. Senate Bill 58, by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, will allow employees who live two or more hours from their polling place to take leave to vote on the Thursday or Friday before an election when in-person absentee voting is allowed by law.
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Oklahoma has an official state flower, a waltz, a state instrument—and on Wednesday, the Senate voted for a bill designating the ribeye as Oklahoma’s official state steak. State Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, is the author of Senate Bill 21. Murdock said the bill is all about promoting a vital part of Oklahoma’s economy and heritage.

“The cattle industry is a huge part of Oklahoma’s identity,” Murdock said. “We have 5.1 million head of beef cows in Oklahoma and we’re third in the nation in the number of beef cows.”
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The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill by Majority Floor Leader Kim David that would permit Oklahomans to carry firearms without a permit.

The committee voted 18-4 for the so-called “constitutional carry” bill and sent the measure on to be considered by the entire Senate.
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The full Senate has given approval to a measure aimed at helping save lives if students overdose on opioids while at school. State Sen. Greg McCortney is the author of Senate Bill 85, which adds school nurses or other designated employees to those who can administer life-saving opiate antagonists. The bill was approved Tuesday unanimously.

OKLAHOMA CITY The Senate Education Committee approved a bill to restore five-day school weeks in Oklahoma schools, advancing one of the four agenda items of Senate Republicans.

Senate Bill 441 by Senator Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, says all public schools shall be in session for no less than 180 days. Currently, schools are to be in session for 1,080 hours. The bill provides exemptions to the five-day school week if local schools can demonstrate four-day weeks arent adversely impacting student achievement and four-day weeks actually save the local district money.

State Sen. Greg McCortney won committee approval Monday for a bill renaming the closed Southern Oklahoma Resource Center in Pauls Valley. Under Senate Bill 7, the facility, long known as SORC, will be called the Washita Valley Complex.

The long-time institutional care facility provided residential care for adults with severe disabilities but closed in 2015 after the Department of Human Services decided to move residents to community-based services.
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OKLAHOMA CITY The Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee unanimously approved a bill by President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would help more small business owners gain access to quality, affordable health plans.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country.  The preventable disease costs the state billions of dollars annually in medical treatment, hospital stays and lost productivity in the workforce. 

To address the growing rate of the disease through legislation, Senate and House members founded the Legislative Diabetes Caucus in 2018.

Sen. Scott and other members are seeking input from local citizens as to how to better address the preventable disease.  The monthly meetings are open to the public. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, on Tuesday commented on the work done by the medical marijuana working group. read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Durant natives, Sen. David Bullard and Rep. Dustin Roberts were thrilled Tuesday to learn that their community was named a Top 5 Finalist nationwide in the Small Business Revolution – Main Street competition.  Citizens will have from February 12-19, 2019, to vote online for their favorite community and the finalist will win a $500,000 Main Street revitalization.

            The legislators encouraged their fellow Oklahomans to help spread the word and vote as much as possible during the week.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation requiring monthly financial reporting to school boards to provide increased transparency of financial records unanimously cleared the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Brenda Stanley presented her first two bills of the Senate term in the Health and Human Services Committee Monday morning, with both measures receiving approval.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House and Senate Veterans’ Caucus held its first meeting for the 2019 legislative session Thursday morning.

Rep. Jay Steagall from the House of Representatives and Sen. Paul Rosino from the State Senate were selected to serve as chairs of the caucus for the 57th Legislature.

Acknowledging the importance of aerospace and aviation in Oklahoma and the industry’s influence on a growing workforce and impact on the state’s economy, State Senator Adam Pugh led the first meeting of the newly-formed Aerospace Caucus at the state Capitol this week.
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