The family of Caitlin Wooten stood beside State Senator Susan Paddack at the Capitol today to show their support for Senate Bill 1037. Paddack, an Ada Democrat, said Caitlins Law, seeks to protect Oklahoma families and communities from senseless acts of violence.

State Senator Frank Shurden said the recent outbreaks of wildfires have been made far worse by individuals deliberately setting blazes. In response, Shurden announced hell file legislation to increase the penalties for arson.

Were going to significantly boost the fines and were going to require restitution for all categories of arson, said Shurden, D-Henryetta. Were also going to include the destruction of hay and animals under third-degree arson.

Senate Democrats will propose a supplemental appropriation to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to help rural Oklahoma fire departments pay the costs of fighting the rash of wildfires that swept across the state in recent weeks, a pair State Senators said Friday.

Senator Daisy Lawler has filed a measure that would ensure gas and diesel fuel taxes currently going to the state's General Revenue Fund would instead go to the State Transportation Fund.

"I want the public to know that when they're paying gas or diesel taxes, all the money is going to roads, bridges and other transportation needs. Under my bill, the percentages of those taxes that currently go to the General Revenue Fund would be redirected to transportation," said Lawler, D-Comanche.

(Oklahoma City) Senator Cal Hobson and Representative Bill Nation said they are pleased, but not surprised that the Oklahoma State Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that 2004 legislation calling for the issuance of revenue bonds to fund endowed chairs at Oklahomas colleges and universities is constitutional.

(Oklahoma City) A pair of State Senators offered support Tuesday for Oklahoma Department of Agricultures plan to provide state assistance to help rural fire departments pay the costs of fighting the rash of wildfires that swept across the state in recent weeks.

Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach announced the plan Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – With almost annual attempts to force rural schools to consolidate against their will, one rural lawmaker says it is time for Oklahoma to settle the issue “once and for all.”

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, filed a measure that would end the concept of forced school consolidation. The proposed constitutional amendment would put the power to consolidate rural districts solely in the hands of local voters.

(State Capitol, Oklahoma City) The Chairman of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus said his group would fight any effort by urban legislators Democrats or Republicans to forcibly consolidate rural public school districts.

The members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus strongly oppose forced school consolidation, and we will oppose any effort to do so in the Oklahoma State Senate, stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Note to Editor: Earlier today Senator Gumm issued a press release stating he has filed legislation to end the threat of forced school consolidation

I welcome rural Senate Republicans to this fight and look forward to their support for SJR 35.

Further, I expect them to encourage leaders in their own party especially those in the House of Representatives to end their incessant and repeated attempts to destroy rural public education and the communities we call home.

State Senator Jeff Rabon urged the Oklahoma Attorney General on Wednesday to coordinate a statewide investigation into the “hijacking of democracy” by out-of-interests seeking a statewide vote on TABOR.

Rabon pointed to the arrest last week of a teenage TABOR petition circulator who was in alleged violation of his parole from Massachusetts and two incidents in Tulsa Tuesday where petition circulators attempted to gather signatures inside polling places on Election Day. One of the TABOR supporters was a precinct worker who was relieved of her duties.
read more.