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Members of the State Senate’s Rural Republican Caucus said they are pleased that Senate Democrats have reversed course and will now allow a vote on a bill providing much-needed funding to rural volunteer fire departments.

On Tuesday Senate Democrat leaders had indicated they would not allow the $9 million bill to come up for a vote unless their demands were met for additional changes to the proposal. SB 1190 passed the House of Representatives on a unanimous vote Tuesday.

Senator Jeff Rabon said today that he plans to move for acceptance of House amendments to Senate Bill 1190 when the Senate convenes today at 1 p.m. The measure will provide $9 million for rural fire departments whose budgets of have been strapped through five months of fighting wildfires in Oklahoma.

“This is beginning and not the end. I made it clear yesterday that I believe rural fire departments need more money and I have had very fruitful talks this morning with my counterpart in the House,” Rabon said.

Legislation cracking down on underage drinking has cleared another hurdle after winning approval Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary. House Bill 3056, by Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, and Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, creates the Prevention of Youth to Access to Alcohol (3.2 Beer) Act.

A record $2.4 billion public schools appropriation bill was approved in the State Senate Wednesday on a bi-partisan 43-2 vote. The amended version of House Bill 2165 includes a $3,000 across the board raise for state teachers and an increase in incentive pay for teachers who achieve National Board Certification.
Passage of the amended version of House Bill 2165 comes ahead of Saturday’s statutory “Fund Education First” deadline. It includes $204.3 million in new funding for Oklahoma’s public schools.
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The Senate unanimously passed a bill today that will immediately restore funds to cash-strapped rural fire departments across the state.

“It is truly a great day in Oklahoma,” Rabon said. “Senate Bill 1190 is a great step forward to give our heroic volunteer rural firefighters the funding they need to continue to keep our families and communities safe.”
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The Senate unanimously passed a bill today that will immediately restore funds to cash-strapped rural fire departments across the state.

“It is truly a great day in Oklahoma,” Rabon said. “Senate Bill 1190 is a great step forward to give our heroic volunteer rural firefighters the funding they need to continue to keep our families and communities safe.”
read more.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a measure that would reform how the state Department of Human Services and the courts handle child abuse cases in Oklahoma. The measure, House Bill 2840, is known as the Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act, named for a two-year-old victim of child abuse.
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State Sen. J. Berry Harrison (D-Fairfax) was honored by his fellow members of the Oklahoma State Senate on Tuesday. Harrison, who is completing his sixteenth year in the Senate, will be leaving the district 10 post due to term limits.

State Sen. J. Berry Harrison (D-Fairfax) was honored by his fellow members of the Oklahoma State Senate on Tuesday. Harrison, who is completing his sixteenth year in the Senate, will be leaving the district 10 post due to term limits.

State Sen. J. Berry Harrison (D-Fairfax) was honored by his fellow members of the Oklahoma State Senate on Tuesday. Harrison, who is completing his sixteenth year in the Senate, will be leaving the district 10 post due to term limits.