OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Designate Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, announced committee assignments today for members of the Senate Democratic Caucus for the 57th Legislature.

“Senators in the Democratic Caucus come to the legislature with extensive real world experience in a wide range of professional backgrounds, including education, business, law, military, firefighting, mental health, clergy, arts, and non-profits,” Floyd said.

OKLAHOMA CITY- Senate Democratic Leader John Sparks released the following statement on the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision to declare Referendum Petition 25, State Question 799 invalid and stricken from the ballot:

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus, released the following comment regarding the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling on State Question 799 and referendum petition:

Members of the Senate will examine current seat belt laws for children and the state’s mandatory professional development training for educators this coming week at the state Capitol.

State Sen. Carri Hicks requested both interim studies. The Senate Public Safety Committee will hold the seat belt study this coming Monday, September 9 at 1 p.m. in room 419-C.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, says minority communities are disproportionately impacted by the state’s criminal justice system, and Oklahoma’s state leaders need to reform how criminal justice decisions are made by analyzing the impact of proposed legislation on minorities through racial impact statements. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation providing juvenile offenders a second chance by preventing harsh sentencing was recently filed by Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City.

Senate Bill 1189 not only prohibits life without parole sentences for juveniles, but also prohibits a mandatory minimum sentence that exceeds 20 years for any offender under the age of 18. The bill would also require a judge to take other circumstances into account when determining an individualized sentence, including maturity, family and community environment, and capacity for rehabilitation.

Maternal mortality rates in the United States have more than doubled since 1987, while pregnancy-related deaths across the world have been in decline. Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, wants to implement maternal mortality reporting in Oklahoma to address this concerning statistic.

Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, filed Senate Bill 1286, which would create the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality.

If passed, the commission would advise state agencies, communities, businesses and organizations that request help on equality issues relating to racial discrimination and bias. The commission would also monitor legislation and act as a resource for racial issues. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma needs to be proactive in addressing assaults against medical professionals.  That’s according to Sen. Darrell Weaver, author of Senate Bill 1290, the Medical Care Provider Protection Act.

Both Republicans and Democrats in the Oklahoma Senate are joining the effort to get a full count in Oklahoma in the 2020 Census.