State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, has won final Senate approval for legislation banning the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops, payday lenders and check-cashing businesses.
Wilcoxson was principal author of SB 1089, which was coauthored by Rep. Sally Kerns, R-Oklahoma City. The Senator said the strong bipartisan support for the measure was evidence that even those legislators who supported the lottery felt this was an important statement.
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SB 1037 is Key Plank of Senate Democrats’
Agenda to ‘Create a Safer Oklahoma’

A key plank of the Senate Democrats’ agenda to “Create a Safer Oklahoma” was signed into law today by Governor Brad Henry. Senate Bill 1037, known as the Caitlin Wooten Act, is authored by Democrat Senator Susan Paddack and State Rep. Wes Hilliard, also a Democrat. The bill is named after 16-year-old Caitlin Wooten.

State Senate Democrats said “no” today to sending meaningful lawsuit reform, a record income tax cut, and a bill eliminating the state’s death tax to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk for his signature.

“Democrats are in the majority in the State Senate, and today Senate Democrats got their way by effectively killing lawsuit reform, income tax cuts, and the elimination of the death tax,” said Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The priorities of the Senate won’t change until the leadership of the Senate changes.”

"Fiscal conservatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, need to stand up and hold the line on cutting our income tax to 4.9 percent.

I can tell you this. The people of Oklahoma do not want another $45 dollar rebate check. They deserve better than that, and the Speaker of the House has publicly said he’s committed to doing a budget with a 4.9 percent cut. It is my hope he will uphold that commitment.

Lawler, Shurden say the Bill Provides Protections against Trespassing

Rural landowners won a huge victory this week with the passage of House Bill 2984, authored by Senator Frank Shurden and Representative Shane Jett. An amendment to the bill by State Senators Daisy Lawler and Frank Shurden increases the penalties for trespassing on private land.

Following is a statement from Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, about the Senate’s action today to send a pair of tax bills to a conference committee. Gumm is chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

“Tax cuts should be negotiated as part of a budget that reflects our state’s values, not used as a platform for a term-limited politician to try to get elected to another job.

The State Senate honored one of its own Tuesday. Senator Gilmer Capps was recognized by his colleagues for his 36 years of service in the distinguished body. The Snyder Democrat is leaving office this year due to term limits.
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State Senator Frank Shurden passed Senate Resolution 105 through the State Senate Wednesday urging Congress to pass H.R. 197, known as the “Military In-State Tuition Act of 2005”. The Act, authored by U.S. Rep. David Scott of Georgia, would amend title 10 of the United States Code to require every state to charge in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education to active-duty members of the Armed Forces and their dependents living or stationed in that state.
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State Sen. Frank Shurden said Gov. Brad Henry had joined the Senate and House in approving his legislation aimed at preventing the spread of disease by giving the Department of Health oversight of tattooing in the state. Gov. Henry signed that legislation on Wednesday.

“I’ve said all along, this is a public health issue. If these businesses fail to follow basic health guidelines, they could be spreading terrible diseases like Hepatitis or Aids,” said Shurden, D-Henryetta.
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Governor Brad Henry on Wednesday signed legislation to simplify the permitting process for custom wheat harvesters, saving them valuable time and money.

House Bill 2895, the Harvest Regulation Reform Act of 2006, authored by Sen. Daisy Lawler and Rep. Ryan McMullen will lower the estimated overall fees assessed to harvesters in the permitting process, while providing harvesters with efficient options for obtaining the proper documentation.

With the wheat harvest expected to begin in mid-May, Lawler said, the bill was an urgent legislative priority.