Prior to 1991, the Legislature voted on tuition and fee increases at state colleges and universities. That year, the Legislature decided to give power over tuition decisions to the State Board of Regents but under a strict cap through House Bill 1219. In 2003, however, another measure was passed to give the State Regents full reign over decisions concerning tuition hikes. Since that time, tuition has nearly doubled and mandatory fees have nearly quadrupled, which has some lawmakers like Sen. Jim Wilson wanting to take back control over such decisions.

In an effort to fund the estimated $17 million backlog owed to Oklahoma's Nationally Board Certified teachers, Sen. Jim Wilson wants to repeal the sales tax exemption for newspapers and periodicals. Senate Bill 1098, filed Monday, would help create around $17 million in additional revenue according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which the Democrat from Tahlequah says could be used to pay back the state's most qualified teachers.
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Sen. Anthony Sykes today offered the following comment on the Court ruling upholding an injunction against SQ 755, which would prohibit state courts from considering Sharia law.

“On Tuesday the federal appeals court in Denver attempted to silence the voice of 70 percent of Oklahoma voters. At some point we have to decide whether this is a country of by and for the judges, or of by and for the people. How far will the people let them go? This ruling is right along with legalizing abortion and forced busing of school children.”

A state Senator has filed legislation to combat fraud and abuse in the workers’ compensation system by authorizing the Oklahoma Attorney General to hire additional fraud investigators.

Sen. Dan Newberry said the Workers’ Compensation Anti-Fraud Act is part of a continued effort to reduce costs to businesses while protecting the rights of injured workers.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center, in partnership with the Pew Center on the States and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance on Wednesday released a comprehensive report on Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. The report offers recommendations on how to reduce violent crime while controlling costs.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, offered the following comments regarding the report.

Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, announced Thursday that he cannot accept the emergency rules handed down from Commissioner Doak and Governor Fallin as Oklahoma’s best effort to fix the problems surrounding the child-only insurance market. A pair of bills being filed offer a path forward without leaving newborns out in the cold. Burrage said that as many as 17 other states have faced a similar problem.

After a Mississippi judge this week blocked the release of 21 inmates pardoned by former Gov. Haley Barbour, Sen. Harry Coates on Thursday pointed to the resulting controversy as a textbook example of why Oklahoma should remove the governor from the parole process. Barbour issued more than 200 pardons just days before leaving office.

Four of those pardoned and released were convicted murderers, all of whom had worked at the governor’s mansion while serving their sentences in minimum security prisons.

Sen. Jim Wilson filed legislation this week to help ensure more of Oklahoma's students have access to a high quality education. Senate Bill 1121 modifies the amount of tax credit allowed under the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act and also closes a loophole to ensure that funds are only used for low income children.
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Sen. Ralph Shortey today issued the following statement in response to criticism of Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak by Oklahoma Senate Democrats.

Sen. Dan Newberry has filed legislation aimed at reducing Oklahoma’s long term fiscal burden by guaranteeing a percentage of spillover funding is dedicated toward paying the state’s pension liability debt.

Senate Bill 1264 would take effect after the state’s Rainy Day Fund is full. The measure would then ensure that 33 percent of any spillover funding is applied toward the reduction of pension liability debt. Once pension liability is funded at 80 percent, the same percentage of spillover funding would be dedicated to reducing the state’s bonded indebtedness.
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