Press Releases

Senate Bill 658, which will greatly restrict mask mandates and forbid COVID vaccine passports in educational institutions, has been signed into law. The measure was authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, said now that Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed Senate Bill 1033 into law, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) can proceed with developing and finalizing agreements that will better protect legitimate Oklahoma businesses by ensuring more resources to go after criminal operations. Leewright is principal author of the legislation.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The first regular session of the 58^th Legislature adjourned Sine Die on Thursday with Senate leaders calling it a big success overall for Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was signed into law Tuesday to incentivize Oklahoma businesses to host blood drives for their employees. Senate Bill 905’s author, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said the new law will help boost critically low blood supplies by providing more opportunities for citizens to donate.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Senate and the House of Representatives redistricting offices today announced the schedule for town hall meetings on the congressional redistricting process. Legislators and redistricting office staff will answer questions and take comments from the public during the meetings.

Five in-person town halls are scheduled – one in each congressional district. Two virtual town halls also will be held for those who can’t attend one of the in-person meetings.

The town hall meetings are scheduled for:

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday passed the appropriations bill to fully fund state government services for Fiscal Year 2022, which starts July 1.

A measure aimed at addressing school funding equity for brick-and-mortar public and charter schools passed the Senate on Thursday.

Authored by Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, Senate Bill 229, also known as the Redbud School Funding Act, would tap into more than $30 million of medical marijuana tax revenue and the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund to use the dollars as annual grants for more than 300 public school districts and brick-and-mortar charter schools that receive below average local tax revenue funding.

OKLAHOMA CITY – About 40 states nationwide have waiting lists for services for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, said legislation he presented in the Senate on Wednesday to lay the foundation for eliminating Oklahoma’s own waiting list was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt Thursday. 

State Senator George Young, D-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement in response to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and the priorities that lie within it.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given its approval to Senate Bill 608, the “Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021.”  The measure, by Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, and House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance, Revenue and Taxation Chair Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, establishes a $30 million cap on first-come, first-served rebates for TV and film productions in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Legislature paid tribute to retiring Higher Education Chancellor Glen D. Johnson on Wednesday, thanking him for his service to the state and wishing him well as he begins his next chapter.  Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and House Chair of the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education Mark McBride, R-Moore, are coauthors of Senate Concurrent Resolution 10, honoring Johnson’s extensive service to the state. Johnson retires as chancellor Sept. 30, 2021.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, commended the full Senate for overwhelmingly passing Senate Bill 1080, which makes improvements to the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, a former public school teacher, released the following statement Tuesday following Senate passage of Senate Bill 1080. 

Today Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Oklahoma will prematurely end the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 13, 2021)— A state budget agreement reached Thursday maintains all state core service funding, provides tax relief to individuals and businesses, and makes targeted new investments in key priorities like education, economic development, health care and infrastructure. The agreement also replenishes more than $700 million in state reserve funds that were significantly reduced to offset pandemic-related revenue reductions last year.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved a resolution Thursday recognizing May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.  Senate Resolution 20 was authored by Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd. Leaders and members of the Asia Society of Oklahoma, Asian District Cultural Association, and Taiwanese Association of Oklahoma were present for the reading of the resolution.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Thursday, Senate Democrats called for sustainable use of the one-time $1.13 billion in funding available for state appropriations. This money would be in addition to the nearly $6.4 billion in federal funding coming to Oklahoma from the American Rescue Plan, of which $1.9 billion is going directly to state government. 

Monday, the US Treasury Department released guidelines for use of the American Rescue Plan dollars to:

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate each in bipartisan and overwhelming votes on Wednesday approved new legislative district maps.

By law, the Legislature must redraw its legislative and congressional district boundaries to reflect changes in population every 10 years immediately following the decennial Census. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, redistricting plans for state legislative districts must be completed by the end of this year’s regular session.

The Oklahoma Courier Application Services Act was signed by the governor on Monday, ensuring individuals involved in local delivery services will not be regulated like the trucking industry by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Authority. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma is now the 25^th state in the nation to enact legislation allowing the use of electronic titles and liens for vehicles, boats, trailers and farm equipment.  Senate Bill 998, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, and Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, was approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday and takes effect Nov. 1, 2021.