On Wednesday, February 5, hundreds of Oklahomans will visit the State Capitol for the 23rd annual Rose Day to ask legislators to support pro-life legislation this session. For the second year, Sen. Harry Coates is asking these citizens to do more than just advocate against abortion but to help Oklahoma’s hundreds of children in foster care by signing up to be a foster parent.

With the Legislature not having approved a general pay increase for state employees since 2006, Sen. Ralph Shortey and Rep. Leslie Osborn on Friday called upon the governor and legislative leaders to make state employees a priority and give them a raise.

Senate Caucus Chair Tom Ivester announced Thursday that he has decided not to seek another term in the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. Ivester, D-Sayre, issued the following comments on his decision:

My wife and I have decided that it is time to pass the torch off to someone else to serve the people of Senate District 26. After prayerful consideration over the holidays we made the decision that I will not run for reelection. My time in the Oklahoma State Senate has been a tremendous experience. It is an honor to represent the great people of southwest Oklahoma.

State Senator Connie Johnson has introduced a bill which would regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 2116 would make the personal use, possession, and limited home-cultivation of marijuana legal for adults 21 years of age and older, and establish a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.

National polls have shown a steady increase in support for taxing and regulating adult use of marijuana in recent years, with a majority of Americans now consistently supporting an end to its prohibition.

Oklahoma’s schools would be safer under legislation filed by Sen. Jabar Shumate. Senate Bill 1753 would prohibit anyone from bringing a concealed handgun onto school property regardless if they have a valid handgun license. Currently, those individuals with a valid handgun license who are just picking up or dropping off a student and not leaving their vehicle are allowed to bring a gun onto school property.

Although pulling people over for speeding and other traffic violations is a routine part of the job, former police officer Sen. Al McAffrey is all too familiar with how quickly a traffic stop can turn dangerous. For this reason, he has authored Senate Bill 1872, which would allow law enforcement officers to issue electronic citations for traffic, misdemeanor and municipal ordinance violations as well as other law enforcement data.

Sen. Roger Ballenger announced Wednesday he will not seek another term in the Oklahoma State Senate. Although the Okmulgee Democrat would not have been term limited until 2018, Ballenger said at this point in his life, he has decided to devote his time and attention to his family, his ranch, and his local community.

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the House Committee on Public Health will hold a joint hearing on Wednesday, January 22, to study the benefits of electronic cigarettes and vapor devices as aides in tobacco harm reduction. The committees, chaired by Sen. Brain Crain, R-Tulsa, and Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso, worked closely together to schedule the hearing so key expert witnesses from around the country would be available to testify about the safety of these products.

State Sen. Randy Bass has filed legislation giving Oklahomans control over whether to allow horse slaughter plants in their communities. Senate Joint Resolution 66 would require proposed equine slaughter facilities to be approved by a majority of qualified voters in the county where the facility is to be located.