As part of his continued “Oklahoma First!” effort to encourage the promotion of Oklahoma businesses and products, Sen. Rob Standridge has filed legislation aimed at choosing textbooks produced in the state for use in public schools.

Oklahoma ranks 28th in the nation for human trafficking, and Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove, wants to better equip law enforcement officers to recognize the signs of this illegal practice and protect trafficking victims. 

Sen. Ron Sharp, a member of the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Education, said Monday his recent correspondence with the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (OSVCSB) verifies his concerns of further illegal enrollment practices by Epic Charter Schools in order to receive additional state funding. The state’s largest virtual charter school is currently under investigation for fraud and embezzlement.
read more.

The last cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) Oklahoma’s state retirees received was in 2008 yet living expenses have continually increased. The Vice Chair of the Senate Insurance and Retirement Committee, Sen. Ron Sharp, said it’s time to find a funding solution. 

“Constituents have let me know for months that they are tired of the excessive robocalls that have gone from just being annoying to disrupting their daily lives. One constituent recently felt forced to change his cell phone number that he had for 40 years. Feeling forced to change your phone number should never be the solution.
read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY – When the legislature passed a $105 million reallocation to increase provider reimbursement rates for physicians, hospitals and nursing homes during the 2019 session, the goal was for health care facilities to expand access to high-quality care for Medicaid patients across the state. According to Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, the increased provider rate is working.
read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Just as doctors pronounce death when the heart stops beating and brainwaves are no longer detected, Sen. Paul Scott wants them to recognize life when they find fetal heartbeats and brainwaves. The Duncan Republican has filed Senate Bill 1859 to better protect the state’s unborn.
read more.

Oklahoma could soon join the growing number of states backing away from using Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to administer prescription-drug programs.  Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, has filed Senate Bill 1901 to replace the state’s third-party PBMs with a direct-to-pharmacy payment system – a move he said could save the state millions and help significantly lower prescription drug prices for state employees.
read more.

As work continues to reform the state’s criminal justice system, Sen. read more.