The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday in favor of legislation aimed at protecting the jobs of U.S. citizens. The measure also contains provisions to ensure taxpayer supported benefits are made available to American citizens and legal immigrants only. Sen. James A. Williamson is the Senate author of House Bill 1804, “The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.” He said the people of Oklahoma are extremely concerned about the issue of illegal immigration.

An extraordinary Tulsa woman was honored by the Senate Tuesday for her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to her family and community. Senate Resolution 27, by Sen. Bill Brown, congratulates Chastity "Chazz" Anderson for her selection as Mrs. Oklahoma 2006 and commends her for helping raise awareness of Lupus in Oklahoma.

The Honorable Brad Henry
Governor, State of Oklahoma
Room 212, State Capitol Bldg.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Oklahoma fire departments will be receiving much-needed funding for new equipment under a budget package recently approved by the Legislature.

Under the agreement, $2.5 million in funding will be deposited into a revolving fund established last year by the Legislature to provide fire departments throughout the state with money for new equipment. Sen. Jeff Rabon said providing departments with funding for critical equipment upgrades and repairs, has been a priority throughout the Legislative session.

Oklahoma Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee graded the 2007 legislative session a “B+,” but said the session could have gotten an “A” if Gov. Brad Henry had signed a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill passed by the Legislature.

“This was a ‘B+’ session that could have been an ‘A’ if Gov. Henry had signed the lawsuit reform bill,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “But we still accomplished a lot for the people of Oklahoma, and the Senate finished the people’s business early and in an orderly fashion.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said Thursday Democrats and Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate proved the skeptics wrong by working together in an unprecedented manner in the First Session of the 51st Oklahoma Legislature.

The full Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill to ensure that winners of the Oklahoma lottery must first pay delinquent taxes or child support liabilities.

Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, author of Senate Bill 513, explained the measure would allow the Lottery Commission to work together with the Tax Commission and the Department of Human Services to determine whether a winner owes child support or any taxes.

The bill will now advance to the House for final consideration.

Legislation that will help Oklahomans see exactly how their tax dollars are being spent is now on its way to Gov. Brad Henry. Senate Bill 1, the “Taxpayer Transparency Act,” by Sen. Randy Brogdon, calls for the creation of an online database to show exactly how state tax dollars are spent. The measure was given final approval by the Senate on Wednesday and by the House on Thursday. Both chambers approved the bill unanimously.

State Sen. Jonathan Nichols and Sen. Kenneth Corn have authored language to increase funding to help combat child abuse and domestic violence in Oklahoma. The language was included in House Bill 1282 which was approved by the Senate on Thursday.

Legislation requiring financial literacy instruction for all Oklahoma secondary school students to help them avoid money problems in their adult years has been given final approval by the state Legislature and will now be considered by the Governor.