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Among the many bills stopped during the shortened 2020 legislative session was one to help potentially save lives by providing judicial authorization of certain anatomical gifts. Altus Republican Brent Howard reintroduced his legislation this session, which received approval Tuesday by the Senate.

Legislation to address the issue of unsolved cases of missing and murdered Native American people has been approved unanimously by the full Senate. Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, is the principal author of Senate Bill 172, known as Ida’s Law. The measure is named for 29-year-old Ida Beard from El Reno. A citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, she went missing in 2015 and has never been found.

Rosino said there are currently more than 220 missing American Indians in Oklahoma, with about 14 of those from his own Senate District.

The Senate approved legislation Tuesday expanding educational opportunities for Oklahoma families. Senate Bill 783, by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, modifies the Education Open Transfer Act to allow students to transfer to another public school district year-round. Pugh, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, said the bill is desperately needed to provide families more flexibility to find the school that meets the needs of their child.

A Senate bill aimed at ensuring teachers receive due process is now on it’s way to the House of Representatives for further consideration.  Senate Bill 13, by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, was approved unanimously by the full Senate on Monday. Stanley said the bill addresses a loophole in current statutes that can result in a teacher being fired without due process.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate has approved Senate Bill 8, which would designate the route that largely follows State Highway 69 in Oklahoma as the “Historic Jefferson Highway Route.” The measure is authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair.  

Established in 1915, the Jefferson Highway is the oldest highway to pass through Oklahoma and spans the state from the Kansas to Texas borders. This highway cuts through the heart of the Louisiana Purchase Territory and is named after President Thomas Jefferson for his role in the transaction.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved legislation Monday by Sen. Carri Hicks to modify teaching exam requirements and better support nursing mothers in Oklahoma schools.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Appropriations Committee has given its approval to a measure that would ensure Oklahomans are not paying more for many prescriptions than the price in Canada.  Sen. Greg McCortney, chair of Health and Human Services, is the author of Senate Bill 734, which was approved on Monday.

The Senate approved a measure Monday allowing victims of domestic or sexual violence or stalking to terminate a lease early without penalty.

Authored by Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, Senate Bill 200 would allow tenants to terminate their lease early without penalty by providing written notice and either a protective order or a police report within 30 days of the violent incident to his or her landlord.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given it’s approval to a bill strengthening Oklahoma statutes on scrap metal theft.  Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, is the author of Senate Bill 1, the Sgt. Craig Johnson Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act, in memory of the Tulsa police officer who helped create the bill but was later killed during a traffic stop.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to make it illegal to “dox” an Oklahoma law enforcement officer is now one step closer to becoming law. Senate Bill 6, by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, was approved by the full Senate on Monday.

Doxing refers to using the internet to research and post documents or other material to intimidate, attack or harass an individual.  Rosino said it’s a form of harassment that can put an officer or their family in danger.