The Oklahoma State Senate voted 47 to 0 in favor of an ethics reform bill today, sending House Bill 2196 to Gov. Henry’s desk. Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives voted 90 to 6 for the bill.

HB 2196 bans campaign contributions from lobbyists and lobbyist principals during regular legislative sessions. The ban applies to contributions to the campaigns of state legislators and candidates for a state legislative office.

House Bill 2196 is authored by Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, and Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma State Senate approved a resolution Thursday memorializing Congress and the President to promote the formation of democratic institutions, multiparty elections and respect for human rights in Ethiopia, and to play a mediatory role in peaceful resolution.

Senate Resolution 77 is authored by Sen. Constance N. Johnson, D-Oklahoma County. A copy of this resolution will be distributed to President George W. Bush and the members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation.

The Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation Wednesday authorizing the Commissioner of Public Safety to house and train canines for drug and bomb units.

House Bill 2695 is authored by State Senator Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee and Rep. Paul Roan, D-Tishomingo. The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for approval.

Sen. Todd Lamb on Wednesday praised Gov. Brad Henry for taking action to make Oklahoma schools some of the safest in the nation by signing Senate Bill 1941, the Oklahoma School Security Act.

“The signing of this measure is good news for Oklahomans. It’s incumbent upon us to do everything in our power to mitigate risks at our schools and ensure they are safe environments for students and staff,” said Lamb, R-Oklahoma City. “This law gives us the opportunity to make numerous security improvements and reduce instances of violence and bullying in our schools.”

The Oklahoma State Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday updating a state statute which protects visitation rights for grandparents.

House Bill 2469 is authored by State Senator Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, and Rep. Wade Rousselot, D-Okay. The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for his approval.

The measure provides that a grandparent may have visitation rights with a grandchild if the grandchild’s mother dies from complications related to the birth of a child.

Yogi Berra’s words – “It ain’t over until it’s over” – still has a slim chance of ringing true for families fighting for autism insurance, according to the bill’s sponsor.

Monday (May 19), two newspapers – both in predominantly Republican communities – published editorials in support of “Nick’s Law,” a measure by Senator Jay Paul Gumm that would require health insurance policies cover diagnosis and treatment for autistic children.

Sen. Jeff Rabon on Tuesday criticized the recent House passage of a resolution encouraging the Attorney General to defend the state in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s moratorium on the out-of-state sales of Oklahoma water.

Approval of House Concurrent Resolution 1088, Rabon said, amounted to little more than political grandstanding.

Senator Anthony Sykes said Tuesday that Senate Democrats are not allowing his House Bill 3001 to come out of conference committee.

The full Senate has given final approval to a measure requiring all prenatal classes to provide educational materials to expectant mothers about the dangers of alcohol and drug use during pregnancy. Charlie Laster is the Senate author of House Bill 2705, authored by Rep. Kris Steele in the House of Representatives.

The Oklahoma State Senate approved a resolution Tuesday recognizing the need to provide protections for credit cardholders and urges Congress to support the “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008.”

Senate Resolution 67 is authored by Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah. Copies of the resolution will be distributed to Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation and to the chair and members of the U.S. House of Representatives.