OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given its approval to House Bill 4327, a measure that would effectively ban nearly all abortions beginning at conception.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is Senate principal author of the measure.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation to give Oklahoma’s full-time state employees one personal holiday. House Bill 4190 would allow workers to choose from Good Friday, Juneteenth, Statehood Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, or the employee’s birthday. Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, are the principal authors of the legislation.

The Senate gave full approval in a 43-3 vote Wednesday evening to name the Quarter Horse as Oklahoma’s official state horse.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two education bills addressing the critical teacher shortage and worsening mental health of Oklahoma students made their way through the Senate Thursday. Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair and Education Committee Vice Chair Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, carried the bills in the Senate.

Earlier this week, 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. Mary Boren, D-Norman

Lawton area legislators, including Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton; Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika; Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton; Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin; Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton; and Rep.

Oklahoma City – The Senate approved legislation Wednesday to attract research and development companies to Oklahoma to help further diversify the state’s economy. House Bill 4354, also known as the Oklahoma Research and Development Act, by Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, would direct the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) to provide matching grants for eligible companies that partner with Oklahoma’s research universities or nonprofit research institutions to foster research and development in the key industries.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given approval to a bill creating an income tax credit to help defray some of the costs associated with adoptions.  Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, is the principal Senate author of House Bill 3088.  Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, is principal House author of the measure.

OKLAHOMA CITY –State Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, said he was shocked and disappointed after the veto of his Senate Bill 176 Tuesday by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The bill, which was approved unanimously by both the Senate and House, would have extended the deadline passed last session temporarily increasing annual leave accumulation limits and allowing state employees to carry over their unused annual leave above the state allowed cap due to the COVID-19 pandemic until the end of Fiscal Year 2022. SB 176 would have extended this benefit through the end of FY’23.