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. 

The governor signed Senate Bill 1100 on Tuesday, approving the first of its kind ban that prohibits nonbinary classifications on state birth certificates. The legislation was authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair.  

Under the bill, the biological sex designation on Oklahoma birth certificates may only be male or female, outlawing the use of “X” or any other symbol to represent a nonbinary designation.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given approval to a measure further protecting and supporting the 2^ndAmendment in Oklahoma.  House Bill 3144 would prohibit state contracts from being made with com

Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, won passage of House Bill 1933 from the full Senate Tuesday, moving the measure closer to becoming law.

The Senate gave approval Tuesday to a measure that would require the state to divest from any financial company that boycotts the energy industry.

The Senate gave approval to House Bill 3286 on Tuesday, legislation that would increase the penalty for stalking from a misdemeanor to a felony while also providing a warning to those who are accused of stalking.

State Senator George Young, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after the House Bill 4190 failed 23-18 in the Senate Tuesday.