The Senate Tourism and Wildlife Committee unanimously passed Senate Joint Resolution 38 by Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee.

Senate Joint Resolution 38 recognizes the inherent right of Oklahoma citizens to hunt and fish.

A bill to give thousands more Oklahoma students the opportunity to earn associates degrees did not get a hearing by the February 21 Senate deadline for committee action on legislation. Sen. Kenneth Corn said the lack of action on Senate Bill 2020 was disappointing, but said he would continue to promote the program in the legislature.

Bass Bill Adds Cost of Books and Fees to Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship Initiative

A bill aimed at giving greater opportunities for Oklahoma’s school children to realize their dream of a college education won unanimous approval for the Senate budget panel on Wednesday. The measure, called the OHLAP Enhancement Act, by Senator Randy Bass (D-Lawton) is part of the Senate Democratic “Vision for Oklahoma: Opportunity and Responsibility” 2008 legislative agenda.

State Sen. Jim Reynolds’ bill to slow down property tax increases received the approval of the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday. It next goes to the full Senate.

Senate Joint Resolution 59 would send to a vote of the people Reynolds’ proposal to cap at 3% the amount that property value assessments can grow each year. Reynolds said the current cap of 5% is too high.

“The number one complaint I hear from my constituents is that their property taxes are growing too fast,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City.

A measure to extend Oklahoma's Back to School sales tax holiday to include more items passed its first hurdle this week. Senate Bill 1149, by State Sen. Don Barrington, adds school supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials used by students to the list of items already exempt from sales tax during the first weekend in August. Barrington also authored SB 861 that created the sales tax holiday.
read more.

The Thursday arrest of a Lawton man who threatened to bomb schools in Lawton and Chickasha underscores the need to make schools safer for children and staff, Sen. Todd Lamb said Friday.

Lamb is the author of Senate Bill 1941, the Oklahoma School Security Act. The measure includes numerous provisions designed to make educational facilities more secure, reduce school violence and bullying and involve administrators in an effort to make their schools safer. The measure also eliminates the use of schools as polling places.

The Senate Agriculture Committee passed a measure this week to give county commissioners the authority to proclaim burn bans in their counties. Currently, the Governor is the only entity with this power, but Senate Bill 1816, by Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Don Armes, would change that.
read more.

Good Bills Dying as Republicans Lock Up to Protect Powerful Insurance Lobby

A disturbing trend of insurance reform bills dying at the hands of Republican senators locking up to protect powerful insurance companies won’t stop Senate Democrats from continuing to push to make healthcare more affordable for all Oklahomans.

A bill by State Senator John Ford, who represents Craig, Nowata and Washington counties, that will establish a charter school district pilot program passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee by a 10-6 vote.

Currently, certain school districts are allowed to have individual charter schools within their jurisdiction. Charter schools are supported by state funding, but exempt from many state regulations. Senate Bill 2100 would establish a trial program allowing 10 entire school districts in Oklahoma to become charter districts.

State Senate Democrat Floor Leader Charles Laster attacked Republicans in an after-business-hours news release late Friday, criticizing GOP senators for votes on several bills related to health insurance.

Senate Republican Floor Leader Owen Laughlin responded, saying one criticism in particular made him chuckle.

“Senator Laster criticized Republicans for defeating a bill that would have recreated the State Board for Property and Casualty Rates, insinuating that bringing back this government bureaucracy would somehow reduce insurance costs,” said Laughlin, R-Woodward.