"I applaud Governor Fallin for her continued work on the issues important to moving Oklahoma forward. The Governor's remarks in the State of the State, focused on growing jobs and the economy, were especially well received. We know Oklahoma's runaway workers' compensation system is the number one roadblock to a strong business climate in our state, and I appreciate Governor Fallin's commitment to work with the legislature on this critical issue."

Oklahoma City has moved ahead with plans to take an additional 30,000 acre-feet of water from Canton Lake in the western part of the state. State Sen. Bryce Marlatt said he learned Tuesday that Oklahoma City had instructed the Army Corps of Engineers to begin transferring the water on Wednesday morning. The entire process will take approximately three weeks.

Senator David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, has introduced legislation to make "Black Friday" sales and other low-price retail sales legal in Oklahoma. Under current law, which was originally enacted in 1941, retailers must sell products for at least six percent more than they paid for it. A December 2011 opinion from the Oklahoma Attorney General confirmed that state law bars all “Black Friday” and other low-price sales, even if they are only temporary.

Taking an additional 30,000 acre-feet of water from Canton Lake would only be a temporary fix for Oklahoma City’s water woes, but the immediate and long-term impact on western Oklahoma would be devastating, with repercussions for the entire state, said State Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward. He urged Oklahoma City officials to be better stewards of the resource—and better neighbors to Western Oklahoma.

Senator David Holt (R – Oklahoma City) and Senator Jabar Shumate (D – Tulsa) have introduced the “Parent Empowerment Act”, Senate Bill 1001, which will give Oklahoma parents the power to force a dramatic change in their students’ underperforming schools.

The deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the first session of the 54th Legislature was 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 17th. By that deadline 1119 bills and 34 joint resolutions filed. Last year at this time, a total of 972 bills and 45 joint resolutions were filed with 753 Senate Bills and 41 Senate Joint Resolutions carried over from the 2011 session.

With budget review hearings slated to begin next week and the 2013 Legislative Session right around the corner, the State Senate on Friday announced a new website dedicated to giving members of the public and the press instantaneous access to the research materials and other presentations Senators will use as they develop the Fiscal 2014 budget.

State Sen. Randy Bass announced he has filed a trio of bills designed to make the voting process easier for more Oklahomans while enabling more citizens to volunteer at voting precincts.

Bass said Senate Bill 278 would expand the period for in-person absentee voting in counties with populations of at least 50,000 during presidential elections. Currently, voters can cast early ballots on the Friday, Saturday and Monday before the election at their county election board. Bass said his bill would expand in-person absentee voting to seven days.

Spurred by recent actions taken by the Oklahoma Insurance Department, Sen. Harry Coates will be filing legislation to prevent the department and any other state agencies from wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary travel expenditures.