Oklahoma City - Legislation that would ban smoking in state owned and state leased buildings, including the State Capitol, gained the final approval from the Senate today and is now headed to the Governor's desk for consideration.

Senate Bill 1553, authored by Senator Ben Robinson (D-Muskogee) and Representative Ray Vaughn (R-Edmond) passed in the Senate after the House approved a committee substitute earlier this week. Before the bill even progressed to the House, the Senate removed original language that banned smoking in many other public places, including restaurants.

Senator Carol Martin has successfully carried Governor Frank Keating's nomination for Dennis Howard to serve another five-year term as a member of the State Board of Agriculture. That nomination won full Senate approval Thursday.

"Dennis Howard is a native of Waurika, and has served all of Oklahoma well in his duties within the Department of Agriculture. He has aggressively sought new ways to promote agriculture in our state and help our producers find new markets," said Senator Martin, R-Comanche.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Using existing Next Generation High-Speed Rail (NGHSR) demonstration funding, the Federal Railroad Administration is currently teaming with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in order to perform precision aerial digital mapping of the developing high-speed corridor between Texas and Oklahoma's two largest metropolitan areas, according to Senator Dave Herbert, D-Midwest City.

Senator Scott Pruitt (R - Broken Arrow) today presented a resolution to Benjamin Netinyahu that he authored calling for the United States Government to fully support Israel during this latest round of violence in the Middle East. The former Israeli President was speaking at an American Legislative Exchange Council Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada.

(Oklahoma City) A congressional redistricting plan that puts the people ahead of incumbent politicians has been filed with the state courts by the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Because it ignores political interests and preserves the historic structure of the existing congressional districts, Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor said he believes the plan is the best of any offered to date.

Statement by Senator Jim Dunlap,
Senate Minority Leader

"It's interesting to finally see any kind of plan on congressional redistricting from the majority party. It is also interesting that for the first time in state history, the Democrat leadership is not concerned about the seniority of our congressional delegation. Senator Taylor also makes a point about not crossing county lines, but his map clearly crosses community lines such as Enid, Oklahoma City and Tulsa."

Legislation aimed at driving prostitutes, pimps and their customers out of neighborhoods and other areas is on its way to the Governor for his signature; that after the Senate gave final approval to the measure late yesterday.

Senator Keith Leftwich and Representative Al Lindley wrote the legislation after meeting with residents of an Oklahoma City neighborhood that had become overrun with prostitutes.

(Oklahoma City) Oklahoma public school teachers and education support personnel will receive expanded health care benefits under legislation passed by the State Senate Wednesday.

HB 1968 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Kenneth Corn was approved on a unanimous 42-0 vote.

"In order to attract and retain the best teachers in Oklahoma, we have to offer a competitive compensation package. By boosting health benefits, we can better compete with the other states that routinely raid Oklahoma to fill their teaching ranks," said Sen. Crutchfield.

Oklahoma City - Legislation banning smoking in state owned and state leased buildings, including the State Capitol, was signed into law by the Governor today, making the new restrictions effective July 1st, 2002.

Senate Bill 1553, authored by Senator Ben Robinson (D-Muskogee) and Representative Ray Vaughn (R-Edmond) passed in the Senate after the House approved a committee substitute earlier this month. Before the bill even progressed to the House, the Senate removed original language that banned smoking in many other public places, including restaurants.

The House of Representatives has given its final approval to a measure to ensure photographs of a murder victim when they were still alive will be admissible during a trial. The measure, co-authored by Representative Fred Morgan and Senator Glenn Coffee is now ready for Governor Frank Keating's signature.

The legislation is named for Kristie LeGrange, a twenty-six year old Home Based Family Therapist who was brutally murdered by one of her clients.