Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, released the following statement regarding final passage of House Bill 1775 on Thursday. The measure prohibits state colleges and universities from requiring gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. It further prohibits school employees from incorporating certain messages about sex and race into any course instruction. The bill will next be considered by the governor. If signed, the measure will go into effect July 1, 2021. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – The governor has given final approval to Senate Bill 736, which will allow county health departments across the state to share resources in an effort to improve public health in Oklahoma.

Authored by Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, the measure allows county health departments to form “health districts,” comprised of multiple member counties, with the goal to pool resources to enhance health outcomes for the member counties.

OKLAHOMA CITY – This session, Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, wanted to even the playing field for high school sports fans by ensuring access to broadcast streams, and Governor Stitt made it happen Monday by signing Senate Bill 302 into law. The measure grants visiting teams in all regular high school athletic competitions the same rights to video stream as is already provided for radio and television broadcasts beginning in the upcoming school year.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma is now among those states officially calling for an Article V Convention of the States.  Authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, and House Majority Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, Senate Joint Resolution 23 was approved by Gov. Stitt on Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given final approval to a bill ensuring payment parity for physicians who care for patients using telemedicine.  Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, is the principal Senate author of Senate Bill 674. The measure was approved on Thursday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard said Oklahomans will not have to worry about their church being shut down during future state or national emergencies after the signing of Senate Bill 368 into law this week.

OKLAHOMA CITY – More elderly and frail inmates in Oklahoma’s prisons could soon qualify for medical parole under legislation signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 320, authored by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan,

will allow those offenders deemed medically frail or vulnerable to be considered for medical parole, also known as compassionate release.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two Senate bills to help manage huge spikes in energy costs after February’s historic winter storm will protect seniors, families, small businesses and Oklahoma’s economy.  That’s according to Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, chair of the Senate select committee created to study the issue.  Both Senate Bills 1049 and 1050 were recently signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was signed Tuesday strengthening penalties for those who knowingly sell or provide alcohol to minors. Senate Bill 283 by Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, will require those convicted of such offenses to attend a victims impact panel program, along with other current penalties.

Brooks explained that the legislation was originally requested by a government class at Oklahoma City’s Southeast High School, who had participated in the Generation Citizen Project.   

Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, released the following statement Wednesday following the tragic shooting death of 20-year-old convenience store worker, Malaki Stone, Tuesday in Duncan.