A measure reforming criteria for applicants seeking medical parole received full Senate approval Wednesday. Senate Bill 320, by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, provides for the medically frail and vulnerable to receive consideration in medical parole proceedings, also known as compassionate release.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate advanced a slate of pro-life measures, demonstrating the chamber’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life, the Senate leader said Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate unanimously advanced legislation from President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would modernize the state’s Open Meeting Act.

The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a measure taking aim at surprise medical bills and the financial devastation that can follow.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the principal author of Senate Bill 548.

Daniels said under the provisions of SB 548, a health care provider would be prohibited from reporting a healthcare debt to a credit bureau or pursue collection activities unless a good faith estimate of the cost of the procedure or care was presented before the service was provided.

The full Senate has given approval to a pair of bills aimed at better protecting the health of Oklahoma women who use abortion-inducing drugs to end their pregnancies.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the principal author of Senate Bills 778 and 779 which were approved on Wednesday.

Daniels said chemical abortions now comprise an estimated 41% of all U.S. abortions, a number that’s growing, and the risk of potentially life-threatening complications is four times greater compared to surgical abortion.

One year ago, the first case of COVID-19 hit Oklahoma and schools had to shut down to protect the safety of students and staff. While most schools have returned to full in-person learning, some are still utilizing virtual learning. While pay for teachers and administrators is protected and guaranteed under current state law during epidemics and state emergencies, it is not for school support staff. Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, authored Senate Bill 807 to ensure the pay of these important school staffers is protected.

In order to save taxpayers millions of dollars on a special election in the event of a future mid-term U.S. Senate seat vacancy, the Senate passed legislation Tuesday night to allow the governor to fill the seat by appointment. Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, is the author of Senate Bill 959, which would move the special election for the U.S. Senate seat to the next regularly scheduled statewide general election.

Late Tuesday night, the Senate passed legislation to protect the annual leave of state employees who are unable to use it during a governor-declared emergency. Senate Bill 282, Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, will allow such leave to be carried over until the end of the next fiscal year following the emergency.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate on Tuesday evening voted in favor of a measure to reinstate the full sales tax exemption on motor vehicles and trailers.  In 2017, faced with declining revenues due to downturns in the energy industry, the Legislature voted to remove 1.25 percent of that exemption. 

A bill requiring school districts to provide suicide awareness and prevention training to teachers and staff every two years won unanimous approval from the full Senate on Tuesday.  Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, is the principal author of Senate Bill 21.

Floyd said data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the problem of suicide in young people has only gotten worse in recent years.