Legislation that would prohibit convicted sex offenders from operating ice cream vending trucks has been approved by the Oklahoma Senate.

Senate Bill 1147 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm would criminalize the operation of ice cream trucks by registered sex offenders. The bill was suggested by a constituent concerned about how close the vendors get to children in communities across the state.

Responding to a study reported Wednesday by the Associated Press, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and Senator Anthony Sykes said the Pew Center’s Public Safety Performance Project uses flawed data and is affiliated with an organization that is proven soft on criminals.

Democrats in the State Senate spend a great deal of time and energy debating against one of their own legislative agenda items on the floor of the Senate, causing Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb to scratch his head in dismay.

The Senate approved legislation Wednesday that will help trucking companies save time and money - cost savings that can be passed on to customers. SB 1184, by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, would create an oversize and/or overweight annual permit to replace the current permits which have to be requested with each delivery.
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The State Senate approved Senate Bill 718 Monday to make voting easier for military personnel who are not registered to vote and return from overseas service after the registration deadline. The House is the next stop for the measure by Sen. Don Barrington.
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Senate Bill 723 authored by Senator Don Barrington received passage by the full Senate today with a 42-3 vote. Barrington’s bill expands his successful Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday to include school supplies and reference materials.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Monday that could help the spouses and children of military personnel killed or injured in combat pursue a higher education. Senate Bill 721, by Sen. Don Barrington, would allow Oklahomans to donate part or all of their income tax refund to the Folds of Honor Scholarship Program.
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State Senator Harry Coates has won unanimous approval for legislation calling on Congress to pass meaningful immigration reform. Senate Joint Resolution 6 was approved on Tuesday. Coates said citizens across the nation are frustrated with the lack of congressional action on the issue of immigration reform.
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The State Senate approved Senator John Ford’s Senate Bill 834, a bill designed to give greater local control to Oklahoma public school districts. Senate Bill 834, the School District Empowerment Program, would remove many of the unfunded state mandates currently restricting the ability of local school districts to best decide how to use resources to benefit their students.

The House of Representatives is the next stop for a measure to help clamp down on underage drinking. On Monday, the full Senate approved an amendment by Sen. Debbe Leftwich which adds graduated penalties to the Oklahoma's social host law.

The current statute only holds adults accountable if a minor is injured or dies. Similar legislation was approved by the Senate in 2008, but was not heard in the House. Senator Leftwich thanked members on both sides of the aisle for supporting her proposal.