OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate unanimously approved legislation Monday to ensure Oklahoma students are educated about the largest act of genocide in world history. Authored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, Senate Bill 1671 would direct the State Department of Education (SDE) to develop and provide public schools with an age-appropriate Holocaust curriculum for 6^th through 12^th grade students beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation passed the Senate Tuesday to make a higher education more attainable for members of the Oklahoma National Guard. Senate Bill 1418, also known as the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act, by Sen. Kim David, would cover resident tuition and fees at Oklahoma colleges and universities for qualifying members.

The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a measure that would further protect stalking victims.

Under current state law, if a victim is stalked by a stranger, they must first file a complaint with a law enforcement agency before they can file a protective order. Authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, Senate Bill 1674 would remove this requirement and allow any stalking victim – whether they know their perpetrator or not – to file a protective order without prior documentation of stalking behavior.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved legislation Monday by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, to give schools more flexibility in how and when they spend general carryover funds. SB 1126 would remove the carryover caps for such funds, allowing schools to better plan and save for future needs.

Equalization certified that the Legislature would have more than $10.4 billion available to appropriate for Fiscal Year 2023, which begins this July 1.  A lot of people are very excited about that figure, including me.   But when we start drilling down into those numbers, what we’ve learned from past budget years and how we prepare for those to come, it’s clear we need to take a thoughtful, conservative approach.

State Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, was recently awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for leading future operations of U.S. Special Forces in East Africa during his most recent deployment.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure authored by Senate Education Committee Chair Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, was approved Tuesday to try to find answers to the ongoing teacher shortage. Senate Bill 1630 would direct school districts to conduct exit interviews when a teacher leaves their position, just as many private sector companies do with their employees.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Given that suicide is the second leading cause of death among Oklahoma children, adolescents, and young adults ages 10–24, Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, wants to ensure students have help at their fingertips in moments of crisis. The Senate approved his Senate Bill 1307 Tuesday to provide the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number on student identification cards.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the Irish Senate and the birth of democracy on the Emerald Isle. Authored by Senators Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and Mary Boren, D-Norman, the resolution also recognizes the role Irish immigrants have played in Oklahoma history and celebrates the creation of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Oklahoma.  

On the heels of the governor’s announcement that Oklahoma is forming a partnership with Arkansas and Louisiana to create a regional hydrogen hub, the state Senate has passed two measures that would give tax credits to businesses and individuals utilizing and producing the clean and affordable energy source.

Authored by Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, Senate Bills 1857 and 1858 would support the tri-state initiative by incentivizing the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles and encouraging hydrogen engineering.