OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved legislation Monday by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, to give schools more flexibility in how and when they spend general carryover funds. SB 1126 would remove the carryover caps for such funds, allowing schools to better plan and save for future needs.

Equalization certified that the Legislature would have more than $10.4 billion available to appropriate for Fiscal Year 2023, which begins this July 1.  A lot of people are very excited about that figure, including me.   But when we start drilling down into those numbers, what we’ve learned from past budget years and how we prepare for those to come, it’s clear we need to take a thoughtful, conservative approach.

State Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, was recently awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for leading future operations of U.S. Special Forces in East Africa during his most recent deployment.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure authored by Senate Education Committee Chair Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, was approved Tuesday to try to find answers to the ongoing teacher shortage. Senate Bill 1630 would direct school districts to conduct exit interviews when a teacher leaves their position, just as many private sector companies do with their employees.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Given that suicide is the second leading cause of death among Oklahoma children, adolescents, and young adults ages 10–24, Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, wants to ensure students have help at their fingertips in moments of crisis. The Senate approved his Senate Bill 1307 Tuesday to provide the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number on student identification cards.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the Irish Senate and the birth of democracy on the Emerald Isle. Authored by Senators Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and Mary Boren, D-Norman, the resolution also recognizes the role Irish immigrants have played in Oklahoma history and celebrates the creation of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Oklahoma.  

On the heels of the governor’s announcement that Oklahoma is forming a partnership with Arkansas and Louisiana to create a regional hydrogen hub, the state Senate has passed two measures that would give tax credits to businesses and individuals utilizing and producing the clean and affordable energy source.

Authored by Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, Senate Bills 1857 and 1858 would support the tri-state initiative by incentivizing the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles and encouraging hydrogen engineering.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave unanimous approval to legislation Monday to further honor our state’s fallen military by helping their surviving spouses. Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, is the author of Senate Bill 1670, which would extend the sales tax exemption granted to the unremarried surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans to the spouses of those killed in the line of duty.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson has won full Senate approval for a bill aimed at moving district court funding from fees to appropriated funding through the Legislature.  Senate Bill 1458 would eliminate a slate of fines and fees currently charged upon conviction.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday approved a slate of pro-life measures to ensure the state values and protects the lives of the unborn.