OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Darcy Jech, R‑Kingfisher, on Thursday held an interim study to learn more about Oklahoma’s infrastructure challenges and discuss new funding needs to improve roads and bridges statewide.

Jech, chairman of the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee, said he wanted the study to clarify the long-term financial challenges Oklahoma’s transportation system faces from high inflation, uncertainty about federal funding and declining gas tax collections as electric vehicles become more popular.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, today held an interim study looking into how to secure a historic highway designation for U.S. Highway 70, a prominent east-west connector in southern Oklahoma.

Officially designated on December 7, 1926, U.S. Route 70 stretches across the southern part of the state for 289 miles, from the Texas state line near Davidson, Oklahoma, to the Arkansas state line near Broken Bow. The road also stretches far beyond Oklahoma's borders. It spans 2,381 miles from Globe, Arizona, to Atlantic, North Carolina.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nikki Nice presented an interim study Wednesday to the Public Safety Committee looking at a pattern of elder abuse known as coercive control. Nice told the committee that while most people think of the abuse of seniors in terms of physical assault that may cause bruises, broken bones or more severe injuries, it can also be a pattern of behavior designed to strip victims of their autonomy, safety, and dignity.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and Senator Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, on Tuesday joined Taiwanese officials in Taipei for the official opening of the Taiwan Regional Trade Office, establishing a new resource for Oklahoma’s international trade and economic development efforts.

The office was established through Senate Bill 209, authored by Sen. Pederson and Representative Daniel Pae, R-Lawton. The measure became law in August 2025, following more than a decade of work to establish a direct trade presence in Taiwan.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, on Tuesday hosted an interim study to explore responsible ways to reduce the length of some prison stays and better utilize successful reentry programs while still prioritizing public safety.

Policy experts, academic leaders and criminal justice reform advocates presented at the study before the Senate Public Safety Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and House Majority Leader Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, on Tuesday held an interim study to explore how Oklahoma can better retain existing companies while also attracting new businesses to the state.

The lawmakers invited business leaders, higher education officials, mental health experts, local service providers and Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols to give their perspectives on what’s preventing Oklahoma from attracting more businesses.

NORMAN – Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, and Cleveland County Commissioner Jacob McHughes today announced that Cleveland County will hire two new sheriff’s deputies tasked with patrolling areas in and around state-owned property in Norman. In addition, the deputies will serve as a resource, providing information to connect those who need it with help.

The idea emerged from a meeting organized by Senator Standridge that included Rep. Jonathan Wilk, Cleveland County leaders and state officials.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, has been named the Health Innovator of the Year by the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma in recognition of her work advancing health policies to improve care for Oklahomans.

KINGFISHER – Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, celebrated two major events in his district this week that included the opening of a new Oklahoma Highway Patrol headquarters in Clinton and continued investment in the future of space exploration in Burns Flat.

On Tuesday, Jech attended the grand opening of the Highway Patrol’s Troop H Headquarters in Clinton. The new 7,500-square-foot facility replaces the OHP’s former facility in Clinton, which the troop outgrew over time.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Leading senators issued the following statements after participating in Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony showcasing renovations at the state’s Jim Thorpe Memorial Building.

The $70 million renovation project to update the building near the state Capitol used by the Corporation Commission, State Election Board, Water Resources Board and other state agencies began in 2023.

Senator Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, Member of the Jim Thorpe Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee: