MEASURE: Conference Committee Substitute for House Bill 2660

SUBJECT: Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax

AUTHORS: Speaker Adair and Representative Pope and Senators Hobson and Monson

PROVISIONS: SECTION 1: Sends to a vote of the people at the November 2004 General Election for their approval or rejection Sections 2 through 19 of this act.

Oklahoma Senators today gave final approval to Governor Henry’s Health Initiative sending a proposed tobacco tax increase to the vote of the people in November.
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Oklahoma should jump on the job growth bandwagon by passing lawsuit reform, workers comp reform

Senator James Dunlap, R-Bartlesville, said Friday that there is clear evidence that President George W. Bush’s tax cuts have provided a significant boost to the U.S. economy.

Senate Republican Leader James Williamson disagreed with the assessment of Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson that Friday’s Senate vote on a tobacco tax bill (House Bill 2660) was the most important vote since House Bill 1017 in 1990.

“Health care is a very important issue in the state, as the level of support for HB 2660 bears out. But in my opinion, if the Legislature fails to pass a meaningful lawsuit reform bill and does not address workers compensation reform this year, the 2004 legislative session can only go down as a failure,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa.

State Senator Sam Helton stated today that legislation to further enhance veterans’ benefits has received approval from the Senate General Conference Committee on Apppropriations (GCCA) today. House Joint Resolution 1044 would provide disabled veterans with property tax relief on their homes.
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The State Senate has given final approval to two measures that will enhance the benefits of Oklahoma’s educators today, according to State Senator Kenneth Corn. Senate Bill 1134 and Senate Bill 1272 will both help to properly compensate retired and current teachers.

SB 1134 would provide for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retired members of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma based upon the retirement benefit amount and the years of service of each retired member.
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Special Session Likely Needed to Pass Meaningful Reform

Senate Republican leaders said Wednesday that time is running out for meaningful lawsuit reform to be passed by the Legislature this year, and that a special session may be needed to complete work.

State Sen. Jim Maddox said he disagreed with an interpretation of the law on term limits that could force him to leave office in mid-term. The Democrat from Lawton said he was considering a legal challenge in an effort to finish the four-year term he was elected to serve.

Just this week the legislature approved a bill outlining the procedure for filling such seats by special election. House Bill 2663 was approved by the Senate on Tuesday after being approved in the House on Monday.
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Oklahoma lawmakers essentially completed the Fiscal Year 2005 state budget with the passage of the final bills out of the General Conference Committee on Appropriations Tuesday – three days before the constitutionally mandated adjournment of the Second Session of the 49th Oklahoma Legislature.

“There are a couple of bills that still have to be heard on the floor of both House and Senate but the budget is finished. We have fulfilled our constitutional duty with time to spare,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan.
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The special joint House-Senate Conference Committee on tort reform today endorsed a comprehensive lawsuit reform proposal, the co-chairpersons of the committee announced.
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