State Senator Mary Easley (D-Tulsa), vice-chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee expressed her appreciation Thursday that her funeral picketing bill was approved by the House and will now go before Gov. Brad Henry to sign into law.

Senate Bill 1020, known as the “Oklahoma Funeral Picketing Act” would make it a misdemeanor to picket within 500 feet of a cemetery, mortuary or church from one hour before the scheduled commencement of funeral services until one hour after the actual completion of the funeral services.
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The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a bill that will completely eliminate Oklahomas estate tax, also known as the death tax. Senate Bill 334, by Senators Mike Mazzei and Glenn Coffee, would provide immediate estate tax relief to non-lineal heirs, such as nephews and nieces, and would completely eliminate the death tax over a three-year period.

The full Senate has voted unanimously for a bill giving neighborhoods across the state greater protection from rapists and child molesters. Sen. Glenn Coffee is author of Senate Bill 1754, also known as the Neighborhood Protection Against Sex Offenders Act. "Just about everyone from time to time will need the services of a plumbing or electrical company or some other business that sends workers into their home. What this act will do is let people know if an employee of that business is on the sex offender registry before that person is sent into their home," said Coffee R-Oklahoma City. read more.

A special team of expert child abuse investigators to help local law enforcement handle difficult cases would be created by a bill approved unanimously by the Senate on Thursday. Senate Bill 1800, by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, would establish the Child Abuse Response Team (CART) within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

“The Governor’s signature on HB 2288 culminates months of work in the Senate to bring an end to the public safety crisis facing Oklahoma.

“Just as in June when I offered my thanks to the Governor for answering my call to expand the Special Session to include the Department of Corrections (DOC) funding issue, I am offering my thanks to him again today for his leadership on signing this supplemental appropriation into law.
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State Senator Mary Easley, vice-chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee thanked Governor Brad Henry Friday for signing her funeral picketing bill into law, which goes into effect immediately.

Senate Bill 1020, known as the “Oklahoma Funeral Picketing Act” makes it a misdemeanor to picket within 500 feet of a cemetery, mortuary or church from one hour before the scheduled commencement of funeral services until one hour after the completion of the funeral services.
read more.

Protecting Oklahoma's children from internet predators is the focus of Senate Bill 1479 which was approved today by the State Senate. Senator Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, is primary author of the bill.

The full Senate has given its approval to legislation targeting drug runners who bring meth into Oklahoma from super labs in Mexico. Senate Bill 1713, by Sen. Charles Wyrick, could land major importers behind bars for life.

“We’ve had tremendous success in reducing the numbers of illegal meth labs in our state by placing limits on the purchase of medicines that contain the ingredients needed to make methamphetamine,” said Wyrick, D-Fairland. “Now we need to address the other source of meth—the major importers.”

SB 2047 Will Allow Small Businesses in Rural Oklahoma to Upgrade Employee Skills

A bill that will strengthen small businesses across Oklahoma through greater access to training dollars to upgrade the skills of existing workers won the approval of the full Senate today. Senate Bill 2047, by State Senator Debbe Leftwich will allow the Department of Commerce to utilize $20 million from the read more.

State Senators voted Monday for a measure calling for a Constitutional amendment to create the Oklahoma Safe Roads Trust Fund and require that all motor fuels taxes are deposited in the fund.
Senate Joint Resolution 58 by Senator Kenneth Corn passed the Senate by a vote of 44-0.
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