Sen. Daisy Lawler said she was very pleased that her Farm-to-School legislation had passed its first challenge in the legislative process. Senate Bill 1515 won approval by the Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services this week and will next be heard by the full Appropriations Committee.
read more.

State Senator Debbe Leftwich, chair of the Senate Business and Labor Committee is sponsoring a bill aimed at amending the state’s lineal estate tax law to include collateral heirs.

Senate Bill 1391 would modify the current law and allow collateral heirs to have the same exemptions that lineal heirs have.

Under current law, lineal heirs have an exemption of up to $1 million on estate taxes, but there is no exemption for collateral heirs.

- Sen. Leftwich’s proposal ‘nibbles around the edges’

State Sen. Owen Laughlin, Assistant Republican Floor Leader, said Friday that Oklahoma’s death tax needs to be fully eliminated, and said a proposal by Senate Democrats to amend the death tax law is inadequate.

Bills Author Says Merit Pay Plan Promotes Greater Accountability in Oklahoma Classrooms

State Senator Mary Easley (D-Tulsa), vice-chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee said she was pleased that her funeral picketing bill was approved by the full Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill 1020, known as the “Oklahoma Funeral Picketing Act” would make it a misdemeanor to picket within 500 feet of a cemetery, mortuary or church from one hour before the scheduled commencement of funeral services until one hour after the actual completion of the funeral services.

The House co-author is Rep. Wade Rousselot (D- Waggoner).
read more.

In a party line vote Monday, Senate Democrats blocked a Republican senator’s proposal to reward teachers who earn a National Teacher Certification status and act as mentors to other teachers.

The amendment, authored by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Moore, would have provided $10,000 national teacher certification bonuses each year for nationally certified teachers who act as a mentor to at-risk teachers and participate in performance evaluation research.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is continuing her push to create a Department of Aging to help older Oklahomans cut through red tape and bureaucracy for much needed services. Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, is author of SB 809, which she initially introduced in the 2005 session. Leftwich said she is hopeful that 2006 will be the year Oklahoma seniors get the kind of streamlined services they’ve been requesting for years.

“Sadly, Senator Wilcoxson is misrepresenting what happened in the Education Committee today.

“The Senate Education Committee voted to pass a plan that would increase incentives for teachers to become national board certified as well as increase incentives for teachers to become mentors to less experienced teachers in Oklahoma classrooms.
read more.

On Monday the Senate Education Committee adopted a Republican senator’s proposal to provide some Oklahoma public school teachers a pay increase of up to $10,000.

The amendment authored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, would provide a $10,000 pay increase for teachers with a doctoral degree; a $5,000 pay increase for teachers with a master’s degree; and a $3,000 pay increase for teachers with a bachelor’s degree. The original proposal by Senate Democrats was for a flat $3,000 pay hike for all teachers.

The family of Caitlin Wooten asked a Senate panel today for support of The Caitlin Wooten Act. Shortly after hearing testimony from Donna Wooten, Caitlin’s mother, Senate Bill 1037 was approved by a unanimous vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Paddack, an Ada Democrat and author of the measure, said the law seeks to protect Oklahoma families and communities from senseless acts of violence.
read more.