Saying too many questions remain unanswered, Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, and Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, are calling on Gov. Kevin Stitt to delay closing the William S. Key Correctional Center until it can be determined exactly how much shuttering the facility will cost.  The lawmakers said they still had questions after a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the closure.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Friday announced the approval of all requests for interim studies submitted by Oklahoma Senate members. Senators submitted 72 interim study requests; one request was withdrawn.

Pro Tem Treat, R-Oklahoma City, assigned interim study requests to Senate committees with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the request. Treat said committee chairs will determine when and if the interim studies assigned to their committee will be held.

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State Senator Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, released the following statement after the key ceremony formally celebrating the merger of Murray State College and the University Center of Southern Oklahoma on Wednesday:

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, issued the following statements after the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing Tuesday on the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) announcement of the closing of the William S. Key Correctional Center in Fort Supply.  Among those appearing before the committee were Tricia Everest, Cabinet Secretary of Public Safety, Deputy Secretary Jason Nelson, Scott Crow, DOC Director, and Ashlee Clemmons, DOC Chief Financial Officer.  

The Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED) has issued its annual report, scoring legislators for their votes for legislation supporting businesses, economic development and job creation.  Of the 149 members of the Legislature, 22 members earned perfect scores, including Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa, has been joined by nearly a dozen fellow members of the Senate in asking Interim Attorney General Dawn Cash to investigate allegations of price gouging and market manipulation in the building supply industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A joint legislative committee will help prioritize proposals for state government’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Under federal law, ARPA funds for state governments are to be used only to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Such uses can include payments to state agencies, nonprofits, industry and households. They can also include investments in public infrastructure.