OKLAHOMA CITY – An interim study held Wednesday in the Oklahoma Senate examined the potential to make permanent changes that the Oklahoma Legislature made earlier this year to the state’s open meeting law that allowed agencies, boards and commissions at the state and local level to meet and hold public meetings virtually, in accordance with health and safety guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, said he wants to strengthen Oklahoma statutes to better deter violence and ensure financial accountability for those who destroy property during riots.  Standridge said he’s already been working with staff on his proposed legislation ahead of the 2021 session.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma is now the 30^th state in the nation to form a “Future Caucus” to find bipartisan solutions to issues that impact younger generations.  The Future Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of members age 45 and younger and will be co-chaired by Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The leader of the Oklahoma Senate commented on the withdrawal of an initiative petition on redistricting.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen.

In 2015, Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, and former Rep. Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore, began working with their fellow veterans and citizens along with state and federal officials to have a cemetery in Ardmore for Oklahoma’s fallen heroes. Their dream was signed into law in 2017 under Senate Bill 543 and this week, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) awarded a nearly $7.4 million grant to establish a State Veterans Cemetery in Ardmore.

State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, recently participated in a Senate interim study that brought experts and other state lawmakers together to share ideas on how to improve law enforcement practices across the state.

OKLAHOMA CITY – After organizing a day of fishing for foster children at a southwest Oklahoma City Park this past weekend, State Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Public Safety Committee heard from law enforcement officials, Career Tech representatives and mental health experts Thursday about modernizing training for Oklahoma’s law enforcement officers

With the state Capitol restoration project just two years away from completion, Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson called Wednesday’s grand opening of the new ground floor visitor entrance a milestone in Oklahoma history.