OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate unanimously approved legislation Monday to honor members of the Oklahoma National Guard who are killed in the line of duty. Sen. David Bullard said House Bill 2374 will cover up to $10,000 of funeral expenses for the state’s heroes who lay down their lives while serving on state active-duty orders.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved legislation Monday modifying rules to terminate parental rights. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, and Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, are the authors of House Bill 2318 to add findings of child abuse or neglect that is heinous and shocking as legal grounds for the termination of parental rights. Under the bill, failing to protect a child, even it is not their own, from such treatment could result in the termination of parental rights.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the governor signed legislation into law allowing law enforcement to use telemedicine assessments for those who need mental health services. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, authored Senate Bill 3 to ensure people in mental crisis are treated as patients, rather than prisoners.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate and House approved a resolution Monday recognizing one of Oklahoma’s top crops, cotton, and the dedicated Oklahoma producers who help provide it to the world market. Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, by Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, and Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, designates cotton as the official fiber of Oklahoma and make it an official state symbol.

The Senate has given final approval to House Bill 2687, also known as the No Patient Left Alone Act, which would provide protections for hospital patients and their families during declared health emergencies.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Kay Floyd said she was very gratified that three bipartisan bills she’d introduced this session are now one step closer to becoming law.  Floyd, Senate Democratic Leader, said Senate Bills 16, 21 and 22 have now been approved by both chambers and are awaiting the governor’s signature.

Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, said SB 16 is a request from the state’s Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) task force, which Floyd has served on for several years.  The group was formed to address the backlog of sexual assault forensic evidence kits.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two criminal justice bills made their way through the Senate Thursday and returned to the House for consideration of Senate amendments. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is the principal Senate author of the measures expanding the Pretrial Release Act and updating post-conviction supervision rules.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has joined the House in approving a measure making sure that drivers of electric vehicles are helping support the state’s transportation infrastructure.  House Bill 2234, by Senate principal author, Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, and House principal author, Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, creates the Driving on Road Infrastructure with Vehicles of Electricity (DRIVE) Act of 2021.

House Bill 1821 is now heading back to the House for final approval after passage from the Senate on Thursday. The measure, authored by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, and Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, would modify the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) program to ensure more Oklahoma students can afford higher learning options.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The February winter storm that gripped Oklahoma led to huge spikes in energy costs for Oklahoma ratepayers. The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday advanced measures aimed at helping ratepayers manage the significant financial burden stemming from those increased energy costs.