Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman appointed Sen. Frank Simpson to serve as Chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.  The retired Navy veteran has served as vice-chair of the committee since getting elected in 2010. 

Members of the Senate will examine current seat belt laws for children and the state’s mandatory professional development training for educators this coming week at the state Capitol.
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Sen. Ron Sharp, a member of the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Education, said Monday his recent correspondence with the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (OSVCSB) verifies his concerns of further illegal enrollment practices by Epic Charter Schools in order to receive additional state funding. The state’s largest virtual charter school is currently under investigation for fraud and embezzlement.
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Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed Senate Bill 1602, also known as the Oklahoma Public Safety Unification Act of 2020, which would create the Oklahoma Public Safety Agency.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson has filed a bill to reform the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act. Thompson, R-Okemah, said the legislation will create government efficiencies while modernizing state agency spending.

            State Sen. Brenda Stanley has been chosen for a new committee assignment for the 2020 legislative session.  Stanley, R-Midwest City, has been given a seat on the Senate Education Committee, tasked with addressing public policy legislation impacting education throughout the state. read more.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat recently announced the appointment of Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, to serve as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader for the Oklahoma State Senate during the Second Session of the 57th Legislature.

State Sen. Greg McCortney has been named chair of the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee.  McCortney, R-Ada, was appointed to the leadership post by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, filed Senate Bill 1286, which would create the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Friday announced leadership changes made necessary due to the recent resignation of a member of the Senate.

Oklahoma could soon join the growing number of states backing away from using Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to administer prescription-drug programs.  Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, has filed Senate Bill 1901 to replace the state’s third-party PBMs with a direct-to-pharmacy payment system – a move he said could save the state millions and help significantly lower prescription drug prices for state employees.
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As work continues to reform the state’s criminal justice system, Sen. read more.

Maternal mortality rates in the United States have more than doubled since 1987, while pregnancy-related deaths across the world have been in decline. Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, wants to implement maternal mortality reporting in Oklahoma to address this concerning statistic.

Current Oklahoma law only requires children under the age of eight to be buckled up in the back seat of a car. AAA data shows car crashes to be the number one cause of death and injury for minors in Oklahoma as a result. State Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, says it’s time to buckle up.

Oklahoma ranks 28th in the nation for human trafficking, and Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove, wants to better equip law enforcement officers to recognize the signs of this illegal practice and protect trafficking victims. 

The last cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) Oklahoma’s state retirees received was in 2008 yet living expenses have continually increased. The Vice Chair of the Senate Insurance and Retirement Committee, Sen. Ron Sharp, said it’s time to find a funding solution. 

Just as doctors pronounce death when the heart stops beating and brainwaves are no longer detected, Sen. Paul Scott wants them to recognize life when they find fetal heartbeats and brainwaves. The Duncan Republican has filed Senate Bill 1859 to better protect the state’s unborn.
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State Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, is inviting citizens to a special town hall meeting in Fort Supply.  The meeting will be held January 22 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Fort Supply High School Cafeteria, 302 Reservation Road, and is specifically to discuss concerns about the William S. read more.

As part of his continued “Oklahoma First!” effort to encourage the promotion of Oklahoma businesses and products, Sen. Rob Standridge has filed legislation aimed at choosing textbooks produced in the state for use in public schools.

State Sen. James Leewright has been recognized by the Association of General Contractors of Oklahoma (AGCOK) for his efforts on behalf of the state’s construction industry.  Leewright, R-Bristow, was given AGCOK’s Legislator of the Year award at their annual banquet held recently in Tulsa.