With the 2016 legislative session quickly approaching, the Senate has completed its bill filing period. Thursday, January 21 was the deadline, resulting in the filing of 704 Senate bills and 42 Senate Joint Resolutions. A total of 636 Senate Bills and 31 Senate Joint Resolutions carried over from the 2015 session.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman has announced the appointment of University of Oklahoma economist Cynthia Rogers to the Incentive Evaluation Commission. Rogers has been appointed to a term that will expire in June, 2020.

Bingman said he was confident Rogers would provide exceptional leadership as a member of the Commission. Rogers has had a long and distinguished career in academia, with extensive work on economic development, and state and local tax policy research.

The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday approved $17.7 million in funding for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to prevent provider rate cuts. The Senate also approved $26.5 million in additional funding for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to make up a portion of the agency’s funding struck down by the courts.
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Twelve Senate Republican freshmen issued a joint statement today calling on the House of Representatives to allow a vote on the all-inclusive revenue package that passed the Oklahoma Senate in an overwhelming fashion on Monday.
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The Oklahoma Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. John Sparks, D-Norman, issued a statement today, commenting on the failure of HB 1054x in the House today:

“Today’s failure of the ‘A+’ revenue package is undoubtedly disappointing and frustrating. However, now is not the time for us to give up and settle on cash and cuts as a short-term fix for our long-term budget problem. Now is the time for us to redouble our efforts, push forward, and find a new path to a long-term budget solution which will protect the most basic, core government functions and services.

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz commented on the failed revenue vote in the Oklahoma House: read more.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz commented on the Senate’s passage of HB 1019, the revised general appropriations bill that closes the FY’18 budget shortfall:
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Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus, released the following comment on the governor's veto of the revised FY'18 budget:
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Paul Rosino is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 45. The Oklahoma City Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

I am extremely grateful to the citizens of District 45 for entrusting me to be their voice in the Senate, Rosino said. Im looking forward to promoting legislation to help create more jobs for our district and our state, help our veterans, expand our economy and properly fund education, public safety, and other core services.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz said a new commission that will conduct performance audits of state agencies will offer lawmakers independent data to improve the management and fiscal affairs and operations of the biggest state agencies.
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