OKLAHOMA CITY – More of Oklahoma’s students will soon be able to take advantage of Oklahoma’s Promise, the state’s free tuition program, following the signing of Senate Bill 132 Tuesday. The bill’s author, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said it will provide students more time to decide whether they want to go to college or a career tech by allowing public and private school students to apply up through the 11^th grade or up to the age of 17 for home-schooled students.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave final approval to legislation requiring Oklahoma law enforcement to comply with federal immigration officials. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, and Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, authored House Bill 2774 to assist the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with locating illegal immigrants who are detained.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill increasing the mobility of professional and occupational licensing across state lines passed unanimously out of the Senate on Wednesday. House Bill 2873, a win for Oklahoma workers, consumers and the economy, embodies fairness to those moving to Oklahoma with similar education, training and skills as well as to in-state Oklahoma professionals.

OKLAHOMA CITY –  The full Senate unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the impact of diabetes in the state and supporting increased health outcomes for those suffering with the disease.

Authored by Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, co-chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Diabetes Caucus, the resolution states there are more than 356,000 Oklahomans living with diabetes and declares their care as preventative care.

OKLAHOMA CITY –Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, gave an update on Wednesday about key areas of the budget as negotiations between the Senate and House continue for Fiscal Year 2022.  Thompson touched on some of the items under discussion and his priorities for the budget.

EDUCATION FUNDING

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given its approval to a bill aimed at ensuring long-term care facilities have a visitation plan in place in the event of future emergencies.  Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, chair of Health and Human Services, is the Senate principal author of House Bill 2566, by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid.  The measure was approved on Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate leaders on Wednesday made public the new district maps and the chair of the redistricting committee says the open and transparent process this time produced better maps.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Each year, thousands of military families are transferred to Oklahoma’s four military bases. Navy veteran and Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee chair Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, authored a pair of bills this session to help these families speed up the process of getting their children back in the classroom. Senate Bills 68 and 69 were signed into law Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation creating the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program is one step closer to becoming law. On Wednesday, the full Senate voted in favor of House Bill 1124, by Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, and Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds.

OKLAHOMA CITY –The pay of school support staff will be protected during future epidemics and state emergencies thanks to legislation signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 807, by Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, will ensure support staff have the same pay protections during such events as teachers and administrators.