Members of the Oklahoma Black Caucus responded Monday afternoon to a video that depicts members of the University of Oklahoma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chanting a song laced with racial slurs.
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Two measures reforming tax incentives for future wind farms in Oklahoma have cleared another legislative hurdle. The full Senate on Tuesday gave approval to Senate Bill 498 and Senate Bill 501. Sen. Mike Mazzei is principal author of the measures, which would take effect beginning January 1, 2016.
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The Senate passed a bill Tuesday to provide the State Regents of Higher Education more flexibility when deciding students’ eligibility for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP). Sen. Corey Brooks is the author of Senate Bill 137, which would direct the Regents to create an appeals process for students denied OHLAP because of their families’ special financial situations.
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Sen. Clark Jolley announced Wednesday that he would hold Senate Bill 609 over until the 2016 session enabling supporters to work throughout the interim to address questions about the benefits of the school choice plan. SB 609, authored by Jolley in the Senate and Rep. Jason Nelson in the House, creates Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), giving parents more options for their child’s education. Sen. Jolley and Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statements.

Statement from Sen. Clark Jolley:

The full Senate on Wednesday advanced legislation that could result in state spending receiving greater scrutiny than ever before. Authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, Senate Joint Resolution 30 would send to a vote of the people a proposal to dedicate every other legislative year to crafting the states budget.

Bingman said that in light of the $611 million shortfall currently faced by the state, the time has come for reform that will enable the Legislature to examine state expenditures from top to bottom.

A bill that would protect clergy members and others who are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies from being required to perform those duties if it conflicts with the officiant’s religious beliefs passed the full Senate today by a vote of 39-6.

SB 788, authored by Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, would not only protect officiants who are authorized by law to solemnize a marriage, it would also shield churches from being required to participate in ceremonies that might conflict for religious reasons.
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The full Senate has easily passed three of the proposals introduced by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, to modernize Oklahoma’s election system and increase rapidly declining voter participation.

“The three proposals received overwhelming votes of support, and as a result we are well on our way to modernizing our state’s election laws,” Holt said. “In particular, I believe the strong vote for a secure online registration system represents a landmark for election reform in this state.”

The Senate voted to protect Oklahoma’s students by preventing school employees who have committed sexual crimes against minors from seeking employment in other school districts. Sen. Kyle Loveless is the author of Senate Bill 301, which will stop districts from unknowingly hiring sexual predators, and keeping predators from moving around the state to avoid detection.
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Sen. Kyle Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) continued his call Wednesday for an evaluation of school administrative costs.

“During her comments to the Senate Appropriations Committee, State School Superintendent Joy Hofmeister agreed with what I have been saying for years ? Oklahoma has too many school districts,” Loveless said. “I hope the Superintendent will support my legislation to create a task force to study this issue and submit recommendations to the legislature.”

Legislation aimed at eliminating payroll deductions for state teachers passed in the Senate today by a vote of 28-16, essentially blocking educators from paying their dues to the organizations that collectively bargains on their behalf directly out of their paychecks. Senator Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, voted no on HB 1749, calling the measure unfair to teachers.
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