Sen. Warren Hamilton welcomed Stigler’s speech, debate and drama teams to the State Senate and recognized them on the chamber floor for their recent state championship wins.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, a former teacher, released the following statement regarding the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

"This budget undermines what we know kids need to thrive. Half of our classroom teachers are leaving the state or leaving the profession entirely at the end of this school year. With no new investment in common education, we are falling further behind and we are already $1.2 billion behind the regional average in per pupil investment. In a year where we have $1.4 billion in surplus, it's time to fill the gap."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation giving firefighters statutory authority to transport patients to the hospital in emergency situations has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 1515, by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, and Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Schools will be better able to address the mental health needs of their students beginning this coming academic year following the signing of Senate Bill 626. The measure, by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, and Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula, requires mental health facilities providing inpatient mental health care services for minors to share with parents the importance of informing their school about their students’ struggles and care received.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, has been appointed to a national panel addressing health care issues, including better patient care and controlling ever-increasing costs.  Haste will work with lawmakers from across the country as part of the National Conference of State Legislature’s Health Innovations Task Force.

The state Senate approved the nomination of Jason Turnbow to sit on the Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) Board of Regents Thursday. The nomination was carried by Sen.

The full Senate gave final approval to Deirdre Gurry of Enid to serve as a member of the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority. The nomination was carried by Sen.

The Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee has given approval to Krista Ratliff to serve the remaining term of Sandra Kunz on the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission, which will end on July 1, 2023. Sen.

Senate Democrats held a press conference to give an update on the 2022 legislative session. Speakers included:

Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City

Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City

Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City

Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman

OKLAHOMA CITY – Now that Oklahoma’s Imagination Library will be expanding to all 77 counties, the legislators who authored the measure creating the state’s program are working to help spread the news. Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow and Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, were co-authors of the 2020 legislation.