State Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro, is reminding citizens that a new state law takes effect July 1 requiring drivers to carry their certificates of registration in their vehicle at all times. It’s part of Senate Bill 1339 which also changes current law so that when a car or truck is sold, the tag stays with the owner instead of the vehicle.
“These changes are currently the law in 42 other states,” Allen explained. “This change will help prevent turnpike tickets and other citations from going to people who no longer own that vehicle.”
read more.State Sen. Chuck Hall, R- Perry, has been chosen to serve on a bipartisan, bicameral oversight committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT). Creating the office was a top agenda goal during the 2019 Legislative Session in order to help improve government transparency and accountability. Historically, legislators have had to rely on state agencies to provide financial data. LOFT will provide independent data to lawmakers and to the public on state agency budgets and program performance.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – During his first week on the job, Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Justin Brown joined Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, to tour the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Friday morning and learn about how hunger is affecting Oklahoma families.
read more.Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Tuesday announced the senators who will serve on the bipartisan, bicameral oversight committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT).
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Each year, the Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED) analyzes bills concerning business, job creation and economic growth and then grades legislators on their votes. Scores are released in the annual REID Report, and Sen. Ron Sharp had the highest cumulative score, a 96, in the Oklahoma State Legislature. One other legislator, Sen. Tom Dugger, R-Stillwater, also has a 96 but has only been in the legislature three years, while Sharp has been in seven years.
read more.OKLAHOMA CITY– Thunderbird Challenge of Pryor graduated its 52nd class with 109 young men and women on Saturday, with State Senator Micheal Bergstrom attending the event.
Thunderbird Challenge, formerly Thunderbird Academy, is one of 10 nationally recognized programs established in 1993. Oklahoma’s program, offered through the National Guard and the Oklahoma Military Department, has currently graduated over 3,000 of Oklahoma’s youth.
read more.Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Thursday announced his appointment of Randy Curry of Weatherford to the board of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
Curry currently serves as rural health coordinator for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy. Before that, he spent more than 30 years in retail pharmacy. Curry holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from SWOSU.
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Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Thursday named two appointments to the board of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said Kari Stomprud of Yukon and Dr. Carisa Wilsie of Yukon will serve as his appointments on the ODMHSAS board in accordance with government accountability reforms enacted earlier this year.
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Sen. Dewayne Pemberton released the following statement regarding the passing Monday of his predecessor Sen. Earl Garrison.
“Earl Garrison had a true public servant’s heart. From his military service to his long career in public education and his years of service to the State of Oklahoma, he always gave his all for his students, state and country.
Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, is calling the 2019 legislative session the most productive of his tenure in the State Senate, in terms of both budgeting priorities and public policy that was signed into law. Lawmakers were able to conclude their work a week before the constitutional deadline of May 31.
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Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, issued the following statement on the passing of former Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman. Standridge succeeded Nichols in representing Senate District 15 after Nichols was term-limited in 2012.