A bill to help make sure that teens in foster care are encouraged to enroll in Oklahoma’s Promise has been signed into law. Senate Bill 763, by Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton, was approved by Gov. Mary Fallin on Friday. The measure directs the Department of Human Services to work in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to encourage greater participation in the state-funded scholarship program.

Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Mike Christian today announced that the Senate and House on Thursday would take up proposals to support and defend the death penalty for the state’s worst criminals.

The House is scheduled to hear Sykes’ Senate Joint Resolution 31, which would send to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment that, if approved, ensures that death penalty statutes are in effect, that methods of execution can be changed, and that the death penalty is not cruel and unusual punishment.

A medical pilot program using cannabidiol, a derivative linked to marijuana, is heading to a vote of the full Senate after being unanimously approved in the Senate Health and Human Services committee yesterday by a vote of 9-0.