Sen. Kay Floyd’s Press Releases

State Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, held a joint interim study Tuesday analyzing pediatric suicide rates in the state, to discover policy changes or prevention services that could decrease suicide in Oklahoma’s youngest citizens.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the past decade, suicide rates for Oklahoma youth have been above the national average.  According to a report issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the state ranked 10^th highest in the nation for youth suicide rates from 2012 to 2016.  On the average, two Oklahomans ages 10-24 die by suicide every week.  Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd hopes events like September’s National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month can help shine a spotlight on suicide and reduce the stigma that may prevent Oklahomans from seeking the help they need.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s sexual assault and rape kit backlog is continuing to pile up, and Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study the progress of analyzing the backlog and provide an update on the current sexual assault cases pending testing.

Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study youth suicide during the interim as suicide rates across the state continue to skyrocket. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, approved the three study requests earlier this month.

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.

Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd met with media to provide an update following sine die adjournment.

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.

Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, Sen. Michael Brooks, Sen. Julia Kirt and Sen. J.J. Dossett met with media to provide an update on session.

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: