Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to honor Oklahoma’s fallen heroes passed the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously Wednesday. House Bill 2374, by Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 450,000 Oklahoma adults suffer from diabetes with over one million more having prediabetes.

March 31, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate will soon be considering legislation designating Oklahoma’s wrecker safety statute in honor of an Oklahoma man who lost his life while on the job. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, is the principal Senate author of House Bill 1584, also known as Bernardo’s Law.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved legislation Monday afternoon to better protect the health of residents in long-term care and assisted living centers. House Bill 1877, by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, creates new procedures to further slow the over-prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to elderly Oklahomans in such facilities.            

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Public Safety Committee has approved a measure to better prepare inmates to rejoin society and the workforce.  Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, is the Senate principal author of House Bill 1679, the “Sarah Stitt Act,” by Reps. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Brian Hill, R-Mustang.  

In an effort to clearly define the roles of both the state and federal government, the full Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 on Monday.

I received an email this past week from a 73-year-old grandmother and constituent who was unable to get a driver license in Tulsa.  She wrote she was going to travel to Muskogee and be there at 5:30 a.m. to stand in line so she could get through the door at 8:00 and hopefully get her license.  I’d like to say that’s an isolated case, but it’s not.  Right now, I’d say the number one issue people are asking me about is the problems they’ve experienced or have heard about related to getting a driver license.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate adopted a resolution Monday urging the U.S. Senate to reject H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2021,” citing the legislation as a federal takeover of state elections.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, authored the legislation and said H.R. 1 is a threat to the integrity of elections in Oklahoma and other states and that the bill violates the tenets of federalism.

The Senate gave approval to a measure Wednesday that would require insurers to provide a detailed notice to both the patient and health care provider when denying a claim.

On Thursday, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to protect churches as essential in the state of Oklahoma. Senate Bill 368, by David Bullard, R-Durant, creates the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, prohibiting declaration of religious institutions as nonessential.

The full Senate has approved legislation by Sen. Rob Standridge allowing social media users to sue for damages against any social media website that censors a user’s political or religious speech. Standridge, R-Norman, authored Senate Bill 383 to eliminate selective censorship of opinion on social media and to ensure free speech is treated fairly.  

A measure to allow more people to qualify for the state’s Delaying Sentencing Program for Young Adults received unanimous approval Wednesday evening by the Senate. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 140 to allow nonviolent, first time male offenders to participate in the program up to the age of 25, rather than 21.

Every day in Oklahoma, hundreds of pregnancies end in miscarriage and stillbirth.

The full Senate has given its approval to legislation prohibiting discrimination against a potential organ transplant recipient based solely on the person’s physical or mental disability.  Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, said Senate Bill 378, creating Everett’s Law, was requested by Edmond parents Rhys and Neely Gay.  Their middle child, Everett, age three, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome shortly after he was born and has a congenital heart defect.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Low turnout is far too common in local school board elections, but that trend would change thanks to a bill approved Wednesday by the Oklahoma Senate.

Senate Bill 962, from Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, would align school board election dates with the dates of primary and general election dates for county, state and federal offices.

A measure reforming criteria for applicants seeking medical parole received full Senate approval Wednesday. Senate Bill 320, by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, provides for the medically frail and vulnerable to receive consideration in medical parole proceedings, also known as compassionate release.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate advanced a slate of pro-life measures, demonstrating the chamber’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life, the Senate leader said Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate unanimously advanced legislation from President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would modernize the state’s Open Meeting Act.