Elected officials, not un-elected bureaucrats, should be setting important policy in our state. This is the belief of Senator John Sparks (D-Norman) and Representative Scott Martin (R-Norman) who have authored new legislation which would prevent state agencies and boards from enacting rules or policies which go against the intent of laws passed in the Legislature. The pair, who were both elected in 2006, hope their working together in such a bi-partisan manner will encourage members to vote on the merits of the idea.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee announced that he will introduce legislation, SB 1862, giving large city mayors chartering authority, while removing the number of caps on allowed charter schools, a major education reform that will increase opportunity for students and parents in the state’s two largest cities.

The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would allow Oklahoma voters to choose their own health care system. Senate Joint Resolution 59, authored by Sen. Dan Newberry, would allow voters to approve a constitutional amendment rendering unconstitutional any law or rule that compels any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.

The Senate Business and Labor Committee approved legislation Monday to stop tax fraud in the state when employers improperly misclassify workers as “independent contractors” to avoid paying unemployment and other taxes. Senate Bill 1384, by Sen. Andrew Rice, would allow the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court and Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to share information and coordinate investigative and enforcement efforts in order to find employers who intentionally misclassify individuals as independent contractors rather than employees.
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A bill to help give part time employees a financial boost by providing them with unemployment insurance payments was approved unanimously Monday by the Senate Business and Labor Committee. Senate Bill 1385, by Sen. Jim Wilson, would authorize the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to create a voluntary Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program.
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Sen. Joe Sweeden on Tuesday voiced opposition to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s new statewide toll-free calling proposal saying that while it might sound like a good idea, there is more to the proposal than meets the eye.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has given unanimous approval to legislation mandating a two year cooling off period before a former lawmaker could become a lobbyist. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is the author of Senate Bill 847. She’s championed the bill since first becoming a member, introducing the legislation three separate times, but this is the first year the bill has been heard in committee.
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State Sen. Randy Brogdon continued his push to better protect the individual rights of Oklahomans on Tuesday with committee approval of the Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act. Under the provisions of Senate Bill 1685, no firearms or ammunition manufactured in Oklahoma and remaining in the state could be subject to any federal regulations, including federal registration requirements.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would end state recognition of common law marriage in Oklahoma. The measure is Senate Bill 1977 by Sen. Earl Garrison, a Democrat from Muskogee. Garrison said only 10 states still recognize common law marriages.
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Last week the Senate approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 41, by Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb, which opposes federal cap and trade proposals that could be detrimental to Oklahoma’s economic growth.