Senator Jeff Rabon said today that he plans to move for acceptance of House amendments to Senate Bill 1190 when the Senate convenes today at 1 p.m. The measure will provide $9 million for rural fire departments whose budgets of have been strapped through five months of fighting wildfires in Oklahoma.

“This is beginning and not the end. I made it clear yesterday that I believe rural fire departments need more money and I have had very fruitful talks this morning with my counterpart in the House,” Rabon said.

Members of the State Senate’s Rural Republican Caucus said they are pleased that Senate Democrats have reversed course and will now allow a vote on a bill providing much-needed funding to rural volunteer fire departments.

On Tuesday Senate Democrat leaders had indicated they would not allow the $9 million bill to come up for a vote unless their demands were met for additional changes to the proposal. SB 1190 passed the House of Representatives on a unanimous vote Tuesday.

Legislation cracking down on underage drinking has cleared another hurdle after winning approval Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary. House Bill 3056, by Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, and Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, creates the Prevention of Youth to Access to Alcohol (3.2 Beer) Act.

A record $2.4 billion public schools appropriation bill was approved in the State Senate Wednesday on a bi-partisan 43-2 vote. The amended version of House Bill 2165 includes a $3,000 across the board raise for state teachers and an increase in incentive pay for teachers who achieve National Board Certification.
Passage of the amended version of House Bill 2165 comes ahead of Saturday’s statutory “Fund Education First” deadline. It includes $204.3 million in new funding for Oklahoma’s public schools.
read more.

The Senate unanimously passed a bill today that will immediately restore funds to cash-strapped rural fire departments across the state.

“It is truly a great day in Oklahoma,” Rabon said. “Senate Bill 1190 is a great step forward to give our heroic volunteer rural firefighters the funding they need to continue to keep our families and communities safe.”
read more.

In an effort to boost economies in rural Oklahoma, two rural democrats have teamed up to push for passage of Senate Bill 1587. The measure’s authors, Senator Susan Paddack of Ada and State Rep. Wes Hilliard of Sulphur are pleased the measure unanimously won the approval of a House panel Wednesday.

Hilliard said the measure modifies the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act by providing protection for communities and gives incentives to corporations who want to set up in areas after a negative economic event occurs.
read more.

Statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan
“Each of the measures that grew out of House Republicans brief sojourn into rural Oklahoma last year has been assigned to the appropriate committee and each will be given due consideration. Every bill will be weighed on its own merits.
read more.

Senator Tom Adelson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services, today congratulated the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for identifying a way to reduce billing errors and save the state $30 million.

The senator said that he now plans to reduce the OHCA budget by a corresponding amount.

Oklahomans now have even greater access to events at the State Capitol via the Internet. As of Wednesday, February 1, streaming audio and video will be available from two Senate committee rooms as well as in the Senate Chamber. In addition, beginning Monday, all floor votes on bills can be viewed in real time on the Senate website.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said the Senate has been on the cutting edge when it comes to utilizing new technology to open up the legislative process.
read more.

The Senate author of the “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday said the tax cut, targeted directly to middle class families, will be among the first bills considered by the Senate Finance Committee.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant and chair of the Finance Committee, said he was pleased Gov. Brad Henry joined Senate Democrats in putting the sales tax holiday at the top of the tax cut agenda. The governor announced Wednesday the proposal would be a centerpiece of his tax cut agenda; Senate Democrats did the same a week earlier.
read more.