The Oklahoma Senate approved a measure Monday that supporters say would be a critical component of the state’s effort to support small businesses.

Senate Bill 1723 would establish an “Entrepreneur Ready Community” program, helping communities find ways to encourage creative Oklahomans to take their ideas and turn them into goods and services. Senator Jay Paul Gumm of Durant wrote the measure.

The February revenue report is encouraging, and it’s good to see our revenues meeting projections for the first time in over a year, but we must keep in mind as we craft our 2011 budget that we are still well below where we need to be, and we will plan accordingly as we move through the process

The Senate passed three significant education reform bills today. Senate Bills 1862, 2033 and 2083 by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee all received bipartisan support.

Students and parents in Oklahoma’s two largest cities will see the expansion of school choices with Senate Bill 1862. This legislation grants the mayors of the state’s two largest cities chartering authority, and removes the number of caps on allowed charter schools.

The full Senate has given approval to legislation mandating a two year cooling off period before a former lawmaker could become a lobbyist. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is the author of Senate Bill 847, which was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate, passing on a vote of 40 to 5 on Tuesday.
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A measure to strengthen state laws aimed at stopping human traffickers has been unanimously approved by the State Senate. State Senator Clark Jolley is the author of Senate Bill 2258, which would increase penalties for stealing or destroying another person’s official identification papers or passport.
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Oklahoma’s worker’s compensation system took a major step toward reform today with the passage of SB 1973, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee.

The state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would prohibit administrative rules by state agencies from taking effect unless they are approved by the Legislature.

Sen. Anthony Sykes, author of the proposal, said the bill would eliminate emergency rulemaking and prevent state agencies from making law.

The full Senate voted unanimously Wednesday for a bill by Senator Jay Paul Gumm to increase the “zone of safety” around schools, childcare facilities, playgrounds and parks.

Under current law, sex offenders are prohibited from loitering within 300 feet of those places where children congregate. Gumm’s bill – Senate Bill 2064 – would extend the zone of safety to being within 500 feet of the locations. Further, the bill would put new restrictions on sex offenders who enter the zone to pick up or drop off their own children.

Sen. Joe Sweeden on Tuesday said a proposal currently being considered by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission is a hidden tax that would obligate all telephone customers in the state to pay an additional fee for every phone line they have.

The proposal would make all in-state calls in Oklahoma toll-free, but all customers would be expected to pay an estimated monthly fee of $3.19 for each of their phone lines.

The full Senate has reaffirmed three pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of the unborn in Oklahoma and the health of Oklahoma women. Senate Bill 1890, by Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, would prohibit the performance of an abortion due to the sex of the unborn child. Lamb said his measure and two others approved by the Senate on Wednesday were approved with bipartisan support.
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