Oklahoma Senate
Senate bills filed for 2017 session
The Senate has completed filing bills for the first session of the 56th Legislature. A total of 831 Senate Bills were filed, along with 46 senate joint resolutions and one senate concurrent resolution. In 2015, a total of 815 Senate bills were filed, along with 32 senate joint resolutions.
The deadline does not apply to appropriations bills which can be filed throughout the session. In addition, the rules adopted on organizational day allow substantive bills to be introduced during the session after the filing deadline. In order for this to occur, the bill is assigned to committee by the Majority Floor Leader and the entire committee becomes the published author of the bill. Such bills must still be heard on the floor by March 23, the deadline for floor votes on legislation originating in the Senate. Measures not heard within that time frame can still be considered in the 2018 session.
The process of authoring bills by committee was first adopted by the Senate in 2015 to do away with shell bills which were basically place-holders for members to use as vehicles for measures later in the session. The change was aimed at increasing transparency in the legislative process.
Members of the public can read and download current legislation by going to the official State Senate website at www.oksenate.gov and following the link for legislation at the top of the homepage. The Senate website also includes daily agendas, meeting notices, calendars, and other helpful information.
The 2017 legislative session will reconvene on Monday, February 6. The Senate offers streaming audio and video from the Senate Chamber, as well as from all committee rooms. Wireless Internet access is available to all Capitol visitors throughout the Senate gallery, rotunda, committee rooms, offices and press rooms.
