Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee have extended their congratulations to Miss Oklahoma winner, Makenna Smith. The Oklahoma City University graduate student interned at the Senate in 2005 when she was completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Oklahoma.

“We’re very proud that one of our former interns will be representing our state in the Miss America pageant. We’re certainly wishing her all the best from everyone here in the State Senate,” Morgan said.

(State Capitol, Oklahoma City) – A bill recently signed by the governor could lead to changes in the way the Oklahoma Tax Commission estimates the budgetary impact of tax proposals.

Senate Bill 368, by Senate Republican Floor Leader Owen Laughlin, creates the Task Force on Dynamic Revenue Forecasting. The task force will study the use of dynamic revenue forecasting and develop recommendations for the Oklahoma Tax Commission regarding the use of such forecasting for analyzing proposed tax legislation

Gov. Brad Henry showed his continued loyalty to Oklahoma’s trial lawyers with a veto of a bipartisan bill that would have limited liability of doctors under contract with the state to perform administrative services, such as examining patient records.

A bill that would create an Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to position Oklahoma as a leader in biofuels research and production has been signed into law by the Governor.

Senate Bill 609 will combine the expertise of Oklahoma’s colleges and universities with the facilities of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to research the development of biofuels.

Sen. Joe Sweeden, author of Senate Bill 609, said the Act will ensure that Oklahoma remains at the forefront of the energy industry for years to come.

A task force has been authorized to examine how state funds are distributed to Oklahoma public schools—that’s after Gov. Brad Henry signed Senate Bill 925 into law this week. Sen. Clark Jolley is principal author of the legislation, co-authored by Rep. Ken Miller. Jolley said he appreciated the governor’s support of the study.

“This is long overdue. It’s been about two decades since anyone took an in-depth look at the school funding formula,” said Jolley, R-Edmond. “We need to determine whether it is efficient, fair, and whether it could be simplified.”

Legislation that will increase funding to Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and Multi-Disciplinary Child Abuse Teams was signed by Gov. Brad Henry this week.

Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, originally authored an amendment that was included in HB 1282. The amendatory language that is now law earmarks a $3 fee on criminal filings for programs that investigate child abuse cases. The new fee could generate as much as one million new dollars for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and Multi-Disciplinary Teams.

“This new law will make certain that every student who qualifies for an Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship will receive their scholarship. It will ensure that the state keeps the promise it has made to these dedicated young people and that the OHLAP program will remain a vital part of our efforts to increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma.”

Note to editors: Currently, approximately 15,000 students are attending college on Oklahoma’s Promise scholarships and another 30,000 middle and high school students have signed up for the program.

At a State Capitol news conference Monday, State Sen. Randy Brogdon addressed recent criticism of his bill, the Taxpayer Transparency Act, and encouraged Gov. Brad Henry to sign the bill into law.
Senate Bill 1, authored by Brogdon (R-Owasso) and Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (R-Moore), requires the Office of State Finance to create and maintain a searchable Website to let citizens see how state tax dollars are used.

The much anticipated 3-day back-to-school sales tax holiday takes place this weekend, August 3-5.

Senator Don Barrington of Lawton authored this legislation that will benefit families preparing their children for school. Purchases of clothes and shoes under $100 can be made free of sales tax this weekend. Local stores are expected to see an increase in business since shoppers will no longer need to cross state lines to take advantage of the Texas sales tax holiday.

Senator Barrington is encouraged by the benefits this holiday will bring to Oklahoma.

*Note to Editors: Senator Jay Paul Gumm, (D-Durant) who has long been the champion of the “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday in the Oklahoma Legislature, and whose district borders Texas in southeastern Oklahoma, issued the following statement in regards to Governor Brad Henry’s signing of the administrative rules that will govern the operation of Oklahoma’s first ever sales tax holiday August 3-5.