The Oklahoma State Senate approved House Joint Resolution 1014 late Wednesday, which prevents outside interests groups from mandating certain government funding and allows for taxpayer dollars to be spent efficiently and a budget to be balanced in a bipartisan fashion.

The Senate has given final approval to a measure aimed at reducing drunk driving in Oklahoma. Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, is the principal author of Senate Bill 1185. The measure allows those convicted of drunk driving on a second or subsequent offence to retain their license if they agree to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle. This device prevents the vehicle’s engine from starting if the driver is intoxicated.
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The Senate gave final approval to legislation late Wednesday night to ban cell phones from prisons. Sen. Don Barrington is author of Senate Bill 1064 and says keeping cell phones out of prisons will make them safer.

In an effort to safeguard Oklahoma’s water resources, the State Senate voted unanimously to support House Bill 1483.

State Sen. Jim Reynolds said he was extremely disappointed that Oklahomans have been denied the opportunity to vote to slow increases on their property taxes. Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, said despite the fact that Senate Joint Resolution 5 was approved earlier this session by both the Senate and the House, it is unlikely that the measure will be sent to the Secretary of State to be placed on the ballot.
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The State Legislature did its part in reforming the tag agency patronage system by giving bipartisan support to Senate Bill 888. The Governor will now decide the outcome of such reform.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee applauded Governor Henry’s signing of HB 1603 – the comprehensive lawsuit reform bill which passed both houses of the legislature by a wide margin last week.

“We’ve spent years in working toward making this day a reality,” said Coffee. “The significance of this day cannot be understated. We made history a week ago by passing this legislation in the Senate and House, and the governor’s assent to our work today is very gratifying.”

State Sen. Steve Russell’s bill to exempt Oklahoma soldiers from state income tax on federal pay is one step closer to becoming law. Senate Bill 881, co-authored by Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City, was approved on a bipartisan vote of 45 to 0 on Friday. Russell said he was elated that the bill was so close to the governor’s desk. The tax exemption would apply to all troops, whether they are National Guard, Reserve or active.
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The State Senate has given final approval to legislation creating stronger penalties for domestic abuse and for possession of child pornography. Senate Bill 1020, by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, was approved unanimously on Friday.

“Crimes like domestic abuse and child pornography destroy families and shatter lives,” said Nichols, R-Norman. “My legislation creates stronger sentences and closes loopholes so these serious crimes will carry the serious punishments they deserve.”
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On the final day of the 2009 legislative session, the state Senate approved a measure that would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for the offense of boating under the influence from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent.

Sen. Bill Brown, Senate author of Senate Bill 902, noted that alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, accounting for nearly twenty percent of all reported fatalities.