Sen. Anthony Sykes has won approval for legislation targeting individuals who cause fatal fires as a result of cooking methamphetamine. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously for Senate Bill 942, ensuring those responsible for such deaths can be charged with first degree murder.
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Three states – Arkansas, Arizona and Louisiana – have legalized covenant marriage, and Sen. Josh Brecheen wants to do the same in Oklahoma in an effort to lower the state’s high divorce rate. Senate Bill 105 was approved unanimously Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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On Thursday, Sen. Harry Coates sent a letter to Gov. Mary Fallin requesting a performance audit of the State Insurance Commission. The Republican senator feels that the information is necessary in determining if expenditures being made by the agency conform with state statutes as well as if they are being used for the manner intended by the Legislature and Ethics Commission.
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Legislation that would bar the use of foreign law in Oklahoma courts was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Senate Bill 1015 states that courts shall not enforce any foreign law as a means of mitigating punishment or providing justification for the commission of a crime.

Sen. Dan Newberry, author of the bill, said that by approving the measure, the Senate was affirming the importance of the rule of law in Oklahoma courts.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation Tuesday that would provide liability protection for Oklahoma’s agritourism professionals. Under Senate Bill 931, by Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Scott Biggs, agritourism professionals would not be liable for any participant injuries or deaths resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities as long as a warning is posted prominently on the premises.
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Three senate committee chairmen have written a letter to President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley seeking to increase common education funding by $75 to $100 million for fiscal year 2014. Senators Jim Halligan, Chairman of the Education Subcommittee, John Ford, Chairman of Education, and Mike Mazzei, Finance Chairman, said after meeting with local school superintendents and State Superintendent Janet Barresi, they are convinced increased education funding must be the top priority when writing the 2014 budget.
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On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Joint Resolution 8 memorializing the President, Vice President and Congress to eliminate or reform specified aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The resolution passed along party lines with the only dissenting votes coming from two of the committee’s democrat members – Senator Constance N. Johnson and Senator Al McAffrey.
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T. Boone Pickens and Gov. Mary Fallin unveil Picken's portrait along with sponsor Sen. James Halligan and artist Mike Wimmer
at a special art dedication Thursday in the Governor's Blue Room at the State Capitol.

Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, commended the Senate Business & Commerce Committee for passing SB 550, which will help Oklahoma consumers by legalizing "Black Friday" and other low-price sales. The bill passed on Thursday by a 5-2 vote.

Oklahoma’s adversarial workers’ compensation system will be replaced with an administrative system under a measure unveiled Monday in the Oklahoma state Senate. SB 1062, authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and co-authored by Senator Anthony Sykes, will be considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
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