The Shawnee Educational Foundation will induct Sen. Ron Sharp into their Hall of Fame Monday night at Oklahoma Baptist University. The Shawnee native is being recognized for his 38 years of dedication to growing the minds of Oklahoma’s youth.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation Wednesday to stop schools from using state appropriations to reward school employees for teacher and student recruitment. Senate Bill 57, by Sen. Ron Sharp, prohibits public, charter and virtual charter schools from giving state-funded bonuses for recruiting individuals from other public, charter or virtual charter schools.
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The Senate approved legislation Wednesday to allow school districts to take action to address drivers unlawfully overtaking school buses. House Bill 1926, by Sen. Ron Sharp and Rep. Dell Kerbs, would better protect student riders by allowing districts to install cameras on school buses to record those who illegally pass when the stop sign is flashing.
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In an effort to deter future hate crimes and ensure criminals are held accountable, Sen. Ron Sharp has filed legislation strengthening Oklahoma’s hate crime law. Senate Bill 1083 would allow districts attorney to choose whether to charge hate crime offenders with a misdemeanor or felony.
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Continuing his efforts to make Oklahoma’s roads safer, Sen. Ron Sharp has filed legislation to once again try to outlaw the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving unless it is with hands-free technology. Senate Bill 1088 would expand the Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015 to try to decrease the number of distracted drivers on Oklahoma roads.
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Legislation was filed Thursday to strengthen Oklahoma’s Heartbeat Informed Consent Act by providing a scientific definition of when life begins, with the first heartbeat. Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, filed Senate Bill 710 to prohibit abortions if the embryonic or fetal heartbeat of the unborn child is audible.
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Each year, millions in untaxed money is wired out of the United States to other countries including from Oklahoma. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bill 547 Wednesday to charge a fee on international wire transactions for individuals who do not present valid personal identification. Sen. Paul Scott, the principal author, said he filed the legislation to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants sending money out of the state as well as address drug money being funneled to other countries.
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Oklahoma became the first state in the nation to recognize Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day when legislation was approved this spring. Sen. Paul Scott was the author of Senate Bill 230 creating the day to commemorate one of the state’s most popular industries.

“Oklahoma has a long, colorful history in aviation and women have played a major role in shaping that history,” said Scott, R-Duncan. “Women’s role in aviation needs to be celebrated and our young women today need to be introduced to this exciting industry and career opportunity.”
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On Friday, Sen. Paul Scott and Sandra Shelton, Public and Government Affairs Liaison for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, made a presentation about Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day at the spring board meeting of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. at their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City. The pair were advocating for other states to create their own commemorative day.

Legislation was filed Wednesday to eliminate a controversial program that provides free pregnancy-related care for undocumented non-citizens. Sen. Paul Scott filed Senate Bill 40 hoping to stop state funds from providing healthcare to pregnant illegal immigrants under the Soon-to-be-Sooners Program (STBS). read more.