The state Senate on Wednesday approved legislation to aid counties in reconstructing structurally inadequate or functionally obsolete bridges and roads. Authored by Sen. Brian Bingman, Senate Bill 832 would create the County Bridge Replacement Revolving Fund.

Bingman said the measure would allow the state to make more substantial and efficient investments to improve the condition of the state’s rural roads and bridges.

Senator John Ford’s Senate Bill 268 passed the State Senate Tuesday with a 44-4 vote.

Senate Bill 268 requires that schools on the School Improvement List for four consecutive years implement alternatives to the way their schools are governed. Schools on this list have for a certain amount of time failed to meet the requirements of adequate yearly progress.

The State Senate approved one of President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee’s government reform measures today, moving Oklahoma toward a more efficient and effective government. SB 980 provides for a state Chief Information Officer, overseeing and consolidating state information technology services under one roof.

“I’m very excited about this very common sense reform passing the Senate today,” said Coffee. “This new office will greatly enhance the efficiency of state government.”

The full Senate has voted unanimously to approve a measure increasing the penalty for a person who causes the injury or death of a person while driving with a license that has been suspended, revoked, canceled or denied. Senate Bill 1170 was approved 48-0 by the Senate on Tuesday.

On a bipartisan vote, the full Senate has approved legislation to remove the statutory trigger required to reduce the state’s income tax from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent, clearing the way for that reduction to take place in tax year 2010. Senator Mike Mazzei is the author of Senate Bill 315 which was approved on Tuesday.

The Oklahoma Senate has unanimously approved legislation designed to honor Oklahomans who pay the ultimate price in the War on Terror.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm is the author of Senate Bill 712, would require the governor to order flags on state property to be flown at half-staff on the day of the memorial service for Oklahomans who are killed in combat. The measure was approved Tuesday.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a bill to ratify the agreement made recently to continue the service of the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. The House passed the bill last week and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee fast-tracked the legislation in the Senate, bypassing the committee process.

The people have spoken. "Do You Realize??" by Oklahoma City alternative rock band, the Flaming Lips, has been named the official Oklahoma State Rock and Roll Song. The winning song was certified Monday in the State Senate with the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 24 by Sen. Mike Schulz and Rep. Joe Dorman.

"We have an official state folk song and a state country song. With as many outstanding rock artists as we have in Oklahoma, it was time to recognize this music as well," said Schulz, R-Altus. "What's really special is that the people of this great state selected it."

The State Senate honored the 2008 Big 12 champions, the University of Oklahoma Sooners and their outstanding quarterback, 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford.

The team and Head Coach Bob Stoops were welcomed with cheers and applause as they lined up to listen to the reading of two resolutions recognizing their many accomplishments.

“We knew in January when Senate Republicans changed the rules to include special protection for one specific industry—the powerful insurance industry—we would be faced with a barrage of bills that would make it harder to make health care more affordable for Oklahoma families.