The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary on Wednesday amended a measure to limit the authority of appellate courts to modify judgment or sentencing in cases where the defense of insanity is raised.

Under the amendment to Senate Bill 905, in cases dealing with the insanity defense, the appellate court would only have the authority to order a new trial or order resentencing without recommendations.

As part of a continued effort to better inform the public through technology, members of the Oklahoma State Senate will soon be making podcasts available on the Senate’s official website.

The podcasts will include information on individual members’ legislation as well as other events occurring at the State Capitol or within their districts. The audio files will be posted in both mp3 and wav formats, and both will be CD quality.

Sen. Don Barrington wants Oklahoma's students to better appreciate the sacrifices made by our nation's military men and women for freedom. For this reason, he and Rep. Ann Coody, R-Lawton, have authored Senate Bill 17, which would create "Celebrate Freedom Week." The observance, which would take place during the week of Veteran's Day, would help better educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom and the values on which the United States was founded. The measure was approved by the Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs Wednesday.

The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday gave approval to a measure that would create a task force to study the redistricting of district attorney and judicial districts.

Senate Bill 990 by Sen. Kenneth Corn would create a 12-member task force, consisting of House and Senate members, two district judges appointed by the Supreme Court and two district attorneys appointed by the District Attorney’s Council.

A bill to clarify county election questions that would result in a tax increase was approved unanimously by the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday. Sen. Anthony Sykes is the author of Senate Bill 1019. He explained the bill was the result of a situation that had occurred in 2004.

Right now, Oklahoma is only one of less than a dozen states that still has straight party voting. Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 16 which would eliminate straight party voting in Oklahoma. That measure was approved Wednesday morning by the Senate Rules Committee.

Leaving a child alone in a vehicle can be deadly—especially in the summertime. Yet every year there are tragic reports about children and infants dying after being left alone in hot cars. Sen. Susan Paddack is hoping to decrease such incidents with SB 551, the Forget-Me-Not Vehicle Safety Act. The measure was approved by the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson is well acquainted with the foster care system in Oklahoma. She and her husband, Lynden, opened their home and their hearts to a foster child whom they later adopted. Now Sen. Wilcoxson is hoping to bring attention to the need for others to do the same. Wilcoxson and the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma (F.C.A.O.) have teamed up to give the Governor, Lt. Governor and every member of the House and Senate a foster doll to care for until May.

A bill that would put a larger protective barrier around grieving families of war casualties received a unanimous vote today in a Senate committee.

Senate Bill 756 would increase the distance protesters at funerals must be from ceremonies and cemeteries; the measure also would triple the time before and after the ceremony when protests would be allowed. The measure was approved without opposition by the Senate Judiciary Committee and next will be considered by the full Senate.

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee commented on a lawsuit reform bill authored by Democrat Sen. Susan Paddack of Ada Tuesday. Senate Bill 824 won passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan 7 to 1 vote.

“This bill is a small step toward the lawsuit reform our state desperately needs, and Senate Republicans look forward to working with Sen. Paddack to achieve meaningful lawsuit reform this session,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.