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Democratic leaders Tuesday won approval by the full State Senate of an important middleclass expansion of the states successful meritbased scholarship program. read more.

Democratic leaders Tuesday won approval by the full State Senate of an important middleclass expansion of the states successful meritbased scholarship program. read more.

Under a proposal approved by the State Senate, victims and family members would be able to give their impact statement in person, without fear of further trauma. Senate Bill 1503, by Senator Glenn Coffee, would prevent the cross-examination of victims or their family members after presenting an oral impact statement during the sentencing phase of a trial.
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State Senators gave approval Tuesday to a $339.1 million boost in public school funding, including the largest teacher pay raise in seven years. By a 41-5 vote the Senate sent Senate Bill 1644 by Senators Susan Paddack and Stratton Taylor to the House for consideration.
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The full Senate has approved a measure which would identify registered sex offenders on their state driver’s license. Under Senate Bill 1426, by Sen. Brian Crain, convicted sex offenders would be given 180 days after being notified by the Department of Corrections to get a new license reflecting their status as a sex offender or face cancellation of their license for one year.
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State Senators gave approval Tuesday to a $339.1 million boost in public school funding, including the largest teacher pay raise in seven years. By a 41-5 vote the Senate sent Senate Bill 1644 by Senators Susan Paddack and Stratton Taylor to the House for consideration.
read more.

The full Senate has given its approval to a measure creating a world-class diabetes research and treatment center in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1056, co-authored by Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, would help fund the start-up cost for creating the center, which would have locations at the University of Oklahoma campuses in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with outreach programs serving the entire state.

The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to prohibit pawn shops, payday lenders and check-cashing institutions from selling lottery tickets. Senate Bill 1089, by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, passed by a vote of 41-0.

“The people who visit pawn shops and payday lenders are likely facing financial hardship,” said Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City. “For the state to sell lottery tickets in such establishments is inappropriate and exploitative.”

The full Senate has given its approval to a measure creating a world-class diabetes research and treatment center in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1056, co-authored by Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, would help fund the start-up cost for creating the center, which would have locations at the University of Oklahoma campuses in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with outreach programs serving the entire state.

- Democrat leaders refuse to give bill a committee hearing

An Edmond state senator said he is disappointed that the State Senate’s Democrat majority killed a bill aimed at helping more people go to college in Oklahoma.

Senate Bill 1658, by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, was not given a hearing by Senate Democrats before Monday’s committee deadline, killing the measure for the year. The bill would have provided tax credits to Oklahoma companies that pay for their employees’ higher education or helped to fund the OHLAP program.