Week In Review

• The Senate met quickly in special session Monday afternoon to receive new bills from the House calling for cuts from each state agency, restoring funding to Oklahoma two primary teaching hospitals and outlining funding priorities for the Department of Human Services (DHS). Those bills, all of which passed off the House floor Monday, include:

• The Senate met briefly Monday but no formal floor action was taken.

• Teachers from around the state rallied at the State Capitol on Monday in support of the Step Up Oklahoma plan, which outlined a proposal to pay for teacher pay raises. State Superintendent of Education Joy Hofmeister and Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis spoke to the group Monday.

• The Senate Education committee met on Monday and approved the following legislation:

• The Senate met briefly Monday to formally begin the Second Session of the 56th Legislature before adjourning to a joint session with the House of Representatives. The Senate recognized the seating of Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, who was formally sworn-in on Thursday, February 1. She replaces former Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa. After concluding its business, the Senate moved to the House chamber to attend Gov. Mary Fallin's final State of the State address.