Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, has decided that the 2016 session will be his last to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature. Before being elected to the Senate in 2008, Halligan, who chairs the Appropriation Subcommittee on Education, was president of Oklahoma State University. He issued the following statement on Wednesday:

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) joined with the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, the Oklahoma Policy Institute, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma at the state Capitol on Thursday to release the results of a recent poll commissioned by OCPA and OKPolicy.

State Sen. Anastasia A. Pittman has announced an interim study focusing on school preparedness for kindergarten students in Oklahoma. The study is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27 in room 419C at the State Capitol.

Sen. Clark Jolley on Thursday said an agreement has been reached to relocate the State Medical Examiner’s Office to the Oklahoma County Health Department building. Jolley said the agreement would result in significant savings and help the Medical Examiner’s Office to restore its accreditation.

Sen. John Sparks, D-Norman, and Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, filed legislation Tuesday to resolve Oklahoma’s ongoing non-compliance with the Real ID Act of 2005.

“Recent events across the nation should serve as a wake-up call. The student backlash at the University of Missouri over equality and inclusion and the Yale University incident concerning the “white girls only” invitation to the SAE function are unfortunate reminders that racism is still very much alive in our nation and on many college campuses.

A new study shows Oklahoma is part of a national trend that shows fewer youthful offenders being incarcerated. According to new numbers from the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), between 1997 and 2013 Oklahoma’s juvenile incarceration rate decreased between 40 and 49 percent.
“That’s a significant improvement for our state, but that same study shows despite that change, we need to do a better job of getting youthful offenders on the right track, staying crime free, doing well in school and ultimately getting jobs,” said Sen. AJ Griffin, R-Guthrie.

One in three Americans will develop diabetes during their lifetime. One in three Oklahomans already has diabetes or pre-diabetes.The state is ranked third in the nation for the highest death rate from diabetes.

Oklahomans are losing their vision, losing limbs and dying from diabetes in shockingly high numbers, but in many cases, the disease can be controlled and even prevented with proper diet and exercise, said Senator Susan Paddack, D-Ada. It is an epidemic, but it is within our power to do something about it.

Every year during the month of October, staff and members of the Oklahoma State Senate plan and participate in a series of competitions and events with the goal of raising money for charities throughout the state of Oklahoma. Its part of the United Ways annual State Charitable Campaign (SCC). Last year, the Senate raised $10,500. This year, senators and staff raised $13,477.

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) released the following statement today regarding the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.

“I am pleased the committee appointed by Oklahoma City Mayor Cornett today heard the consultant’s report on this project and it now heads to the full City Council. This proposed plan exemplifies the Oklahoma Standard. City, county, state and tribal governments have all joined together to showcase our unique history and shared culture by moving forward with this Smithsonian-style museum.