Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz praised the final passage of Senate Bill 867, the Oklahoma Energy Jobs Act of 2017. Schulz said the measure would generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state and spur the creation of thousands of jobs in the Oklahoma oil patch.

Legislation improving the state’s sex offender registry law has been signed by the governor. Senate Bill 217, by Sen. AJ Griffin and Rep. Mike Osburn, modifies Oklahoma’s current sex offender registration law to streamline the notification process between local law enforcement, the courts and the Department of Corrections (DOC) and, in certain cases, will require notification of the Department of Human Services (DHS) as well. It also directs courts assigning sex offender registration levels to follow the guidelines used by the state’s sex offender level assignment committee.

An Oklahoma Senate committee on Tuesday gave approval to a major jobs bill from Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz that is anticipated to spur a significant increase in oil and gas drilling in the state of Oklahoma, creating thousands of new energy jobs and boosting state and local revenues.

The Senate gave unanimous final approval Tuesday to legislation modifying Oklahoma’s Promise, the state-sponsored tuition program. Sen. Jason Smalley is the author of Senate Bill 529, which he said makes necessary changes to the program to protect the integrity and stability of the program.

“This bill tackles a number of areas concerning Oklahoma’s Promise to ensure that those students who truly need financial assistance can get it while also being inclusive of those degrees that take longer than the average program,” said Smalley, R-Stroud.

The Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant provides annual $2,000 stipends for Oklahoma students attending certain qualified private and independent, not-for-profit colleges and universities. The governor signed Senate Bill 600, by Sen. Jason Smalley and Rep. Katie Henke, this week to clarify that eligible institutions must have been granted not-for-profit status by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Education before July 1, 2012. Smalley said the change closes a loophole that was allowing certain institutions not intended for the grant to qualify for it.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus, released the following statement after accepting the resignation of Senator Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City:

"Today, I received and accepted the resignation of Senator Kyle Loveless, effective immediately. I wish Senator Loveless and his family best wishes moving forward."

Click here for a copy of the resignation letter.

The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday in a bipartisan vote approved a bill creating an independent commission to conduct comprehensive performance audits of state agencies. House Bill 2311 is authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus, and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz released the following statement after the Senate approved HB 2298, which moves up the sunset date of the zero-emissions tax credit to July 1, 2017.

The State Senate presented a resolution Thursday morning commemorating the 75th anniversary of Tinker Air Force Base. The resolution was presented by Sen. Jack Fry to Lt. Gen. Lee K. Levy, Air Force Sustainment Center Commander at Tinker Air Force Base and the senior ranking military member in the state.

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus, released the following statement after receiving a resignation letter from Ralph Shortey: