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

Current Oklahoma law only requires children under the age of eight to be buckled up in the back seat of a car. AAA data shows car crashes to be the number one cause of death and injury for minors in Oklahoma as a result. State Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, says it’s time to buckle up.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat recently announced the appointment of Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, to serve as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader for the Oklahoma State Senate during the Second Session of the 57th Legislature.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Casey Murdock is urging citizens to voice their support for the William S. Key Correctional Center in Fort Supply.  Murdock, R-Felt, said he’s learned the facility is among a handful of prisons throughout the state that could be targeted for possible closure.  Murdock said he’d been told that the state is looking at closing five prisons, including William S. Key, in a process that would be similar to the federal government’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission process (BRAC) for determining possible closure of military bases. 
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State Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, is inviting citizens to a special town hall meeting in Fort Supply.  The meeting will be held January 22 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Fort Supply High School Cafeteria, 302 Reservation Road, and is specifically to discuss concerns about the William S. read more.

State Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, has filed legislation to reflect recent changes in federal law raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21.  Last month, Congress passed legislation prohibiting the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.  The Tobacco-Free Youth Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
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State Sen. Greg McCortney has been named chair of the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee.  McCortney, R-Ada, was appointed to the leadership post by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Sen. Kevin Matthews, chairman of Oklahoma’s Legislative Black Caucus, said members are creating a $10,000 endowed scholarship at Langston University to honor the life and work of E. Melvin Porter, Oklahoma’s first black member of the state Senate. Porter died July 26 at the age of 86. Matthews will formally announce the creation of the scholarship at a memorial service for Porter to be held this Saturday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m., at St. read more.