Sen. District 8’s Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, issued the following statement on Friday after it was announced that national higher education and business leader Allison D. Garrett had been chosen as the next chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, succeeding Chancellor Glen D. Johnson.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding met Wednesday to review the progress made in establishing the state’s process for utilizing federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Assessments began on Wednesday, Sept. 1 that will ultimately enable the state to eliminate the waiting list for developmental disability home and community-based services.  That’s according to Sen. Paul Rosino, vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, who have been working with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to address the issue.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The joint legislative committee formed to support the state planning of pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) met today for its first organizational meeting.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, issued the following statements after the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing Tuesday on the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) announcement of the closing of the William S. Key Correctional Center in Fort Supply.  Among those appearing before the committee were Tricia Everest, Cabinet Secretary of Public Safety, Deputy Secretary Jason Nelson, Scott Crow, DOC Director, and Ashlee Clemmons, DOC Chief Financial Officer.  

OKLAHOMA CITY - A joint legislative committee will help prioritize proposals for state government’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Under federal law, ARPA funds for state governments are to be used only to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Such uses can include payments to state agencies, nonprofits, industry and households. They can also include investments in public infrastructure.

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

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 (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.