Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan has announced that 44 of the Senate’s 47 members have been assigned to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations.
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A Senate measure to help protect nursing home residents from sexual predators is on its way to the Governor's desk. The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1707 Tuesday to provide the Sex Offender Registry to the state Commissioner of Health. The measure is authored by Senator David Myers (R-Ponca City) and Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs).
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A key plank of the Senate Democrats’ agenda to “Create a Safer Oklahoma” is on its way to Governor Henry for his signature after receiving final passage on the Senate floor this morning. Senate Bill 1037, known as the Caitlin Wooten Act, is authored by Democratic Senator Susan Paddack and State Rep. Wes Hilliard, also a Democrat. The bill is named after 16-year-old Caitlin Wooten.

For the third straight year, the Senate Redhots are the champions of bedlam baseball, defeating the House 8-7 in Tuesday’s after session game at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
Senate Coach David “Casey” Myers called the game, which benefited the American Cancer Society, “spectacular.”

“I knew stealth was going to win over youth…matter of fact, they were coming on strong in the last inning and it looked like we weren’t going to be able to hold them, but I believe one of them collapsed going around second and let us win,” said Coach Myers following the victory. read more.

Saying it came down to a public health issue, Sen. Frank Shurden won final Senate approval Wednesday for a measure that would give the State Health Department regulatory control over tattooing. Senate Bill 806 now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for his consideration.
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The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM) and the Tulsa Regional Medical Center (TRMC) have signed off on an agreement to ensure the future of the teaching hospital. Sen. Mike Mazzei announced the agreement mirrors the recommendations made in a recently released report by Merrill Lynch. The report was requested by a legislative task force co-chaired by Sen. Tom Adelson and Rep. Chris Benge. Mazzei has served as lead negotiator for the panel.
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Having played an integral part in facilitating communication and cooperation between Oklahoma’s Court Appointed Special Advocates and the state legislature, Senator Kenneth Corn was recently named 2006 Legislator of the Year by CASA at the group’s annual Awards of Excellence Banquet.

Oklahoma CASA Executive Director Anna Naukam praised Corn for his efforts to make a significant contribution to the lives of children.

State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, has won final Senate approval for legislation banning the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops, payday lenders and check-cashing businesses.
Wilcoxson was principal author of SB 1089, which was coauthored by Rep. Sally Kerns, R-Oklahoma City. The Senator said the strong bipartisan support for the measure was evidence that even those legislators who supported the lottery felt this was an important statement.
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SB 1037 is Key Plank of Senate Democrats’
Agenda to ‘Create a Safer Oklahoma’

A key plank of the Senate Democrats’ agenda to “Create a Safer Oklahoma” was signed into law today by Governor Brad Henry. Senate Bill 1037, known as the Caitlin Wooten Act, is authored by Democrat Senator Susan Paddack and State Rep. Wes Hilliard, also a Democrat. The bill is named after 16-year-old Caitlin Wooten.

State Senate Democrats said “no” today to sending meaningful lawsuit reform, a record income tax cut, and a bill eliminating the state’s death tax to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk for his signature.

“Democrats are in the majority in the State Senate, and today Senate Democrats got their way by effectively killing lawsuit reform, income tax cuts, and the elimination of the death tax,” said Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The priorities of the Senate won’t change until the leadership of the Senate changes.”