OKLAHOMA CITY – Court-appointed special advocates would be submitted to a child welfare records search under legislation approved unanimously by the Senate Monday.  Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, is the author of Senate Bill 722.

Sen. Paul Scott (R-Duncan) released the following statement regarding his decision to not pursue Senate Bill 40 dealing with the Soon-to-be-Sooners Program.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country.  The preventable disease costs the state billions of dollars annually in medical treatment, hospital stays and lost productivity in the workforce. 

To address the growing rate of the disease through legislation, Senate and House members founded the Legislative Diabetes Caucus in 2018.

Sen. Scott and other members are seeking input from local citizens as to how to better address the preventable disease.  The monthly meetings are open to the public. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Durant natives, Sen. David Bullard and Rep. Dustin Roberts were thrilled Tuesday to learn that their community was named a Top 5 Finalist nationwide in the Small Business Revolution – Main Street competition.  Citizens will have from February 12-19, 2019, to vote online for their favorite community and the finalist will win a $500,000 Main Street revitalization.

            The legislators encouraged their fellow Oklahomans to help spread the word and vote as much as possible during the week.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House and Senate Veterans’ Caucus held its first meeting for the 2019 legislative session Thursday morning.

Rep. Jay Steagall from the House of Representatives and Sen. Paul Rosino from the State Senate were selected to serve as chairs of the caucus for the 57th Legislature.

The Senate Republican Caucus released their agenda for the 2019 legislative session earlier this week. Senator Paul Scott, R-Duncan, released the following statement concerning efforts to help schools return to five-day weeks.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following the discovery of a $30 million slush fund at the Department of Health last year, a multi-county grand jury made seven recommendations to prevent future financial deceit by state agencies.  Sen. Paul Scott has authored legislation to implement one of those recommendations by punishing state employees who hide public funds under their control.  

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom toured J-M Farms this week, getting a firsthand look at Miami’s local mushroom producer.  Bergstrom was hosted by Scott Englebrecht and McKinzie Koons.

 “J-M Farms is a vital part of our community here in northeastern Oklahoma, as well as across the state and region,” said Bergstrom, R-Adair.  “It provides approximately 600 jobs directly and indirectly in the area and ships more than 28 million pounds of product annually within Oklahoma and nine surrounding states.”

OKLAHOMA CITY –   Newly elected Senator Julia Kirt was selected to serve on four Senate committees for the 57th legislature by Senate Democratic Leader Designate Kay Floyd.

            The Oklahoma City Democrat was appointed to serve on the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, as well as the Finance and Rules Committees.  She will also serve on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. 

Tapped to serve as Vice Chair of Select Agencies Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Paul Scott has been chosen to serve on several key committees in the Oklahoma State Senate.  Senate President Pro Tempore-designate Greg Treat recently announced the appointments.

The Duncan Republican will serve as Vice Chair of the Select Agencies Committee and is one of only 21 members to serve on the full Appropriations Committee. He will also serve as a member of the Health and Human Services and Education Committees.