Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt issued the following statement after the Senate joined the House of Representatives in approving a consent decree to resolve a 2023 lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) alleging the agency violated the rights

Senate vote finalizes decree, sending it to the Secretary of State

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate voted today to approve the mental health consent decree that reduces wait times to treat defendants who have been declared incompetent to stand trial and awaiting competency restoration treatment. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — As the Judicial Nominating Commission prepares to interview candidates to fill a vacancy on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, 10 state lawmakers have penned a letter urging the panel to nominate candidates who are free from political agendas and committed to upholding the law with impartiality and integrity.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate Education Committee has approved 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt won committee approval for legislation aimed at lowering health care costs, helping Oklahomans maintain good mental health and preventing crises. Senate Bill 670 passed the Health and Human Services committee on Monday.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate Bill 912, authored by Senator Paul Rosino, passed out of the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee today, which will enhance the aerospace industry and will move the state closer to becoming more attractive to companies developing systems in the space industry development.

SB 4 Prohibits Harmful Food Additives Linked to Health Risks

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate Committee on Agriculture and Wildlife has passed Senate Bill 4, legislation by Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, aimed at protecting public health by banning certain harmful food additives.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Brian Guthrie, R-Bixby, successfully advanced two key pieces of legislation off the Senate floor this week, Senate Bills 20 and 368. Both bills received unanimous support and will now advance to the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 20 authorizes street-legal utility vehicles to travel on U.S. highways with a posted speed limit of 50 mph or less.

Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton held a press conference at 1:30 p.m. on February 27, 2025.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, on Thursday, secured initial approval for legislation to protect children from the dangers presented by excessive and unsupervised use of social media.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, released the following statement on the passing of former Representative Bobby Frame, who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1997 to 2001.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus are inviting Oklahomans from across the state to participate in the first of a series of “Capitol Conversations,”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, to automatically restore gun rights for some nonviolent felons who have served their time and gone five years without any new charges or convictions.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, has won full Appropriations Committee approval for her bill rewarding the use of gun safes and other firearm safety devices. Senate Bill 50 provides a state sales tax exemption when a gun owner purchases such equipment. The measure was approved by the committee on Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Retirement and Government Resources Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 432. The measure by Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, increases pension benefits for volunteer firefighters who retire after the effective date of the act.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday approved legislation to prohibit teachers and other school personnel from using corporal punishment on students with disabilities.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, today advanced several education priority measures in the Senate Education Committee.

The policies were part of Senator Pugh’s education agenda and aim to improve school accreditation and due process for districts and educators. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Wednesday, Senate Bill 513, authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, successfully passed out of the Public Safety Committee. SB 513 aims to protect the constitutional right to religious freedom during declared states of emergency.