The Senate adjourned after concluding business on Tuesday due to the approaching winter storm which is expected to significantly impact state roads and highways. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 1:30 on Monday, February 14, 2011.

In addition, Senate offices will be closed on Wednesday, February 9.

For further notification regarding office hours on Thursday or Friday, please check the Senate Website’s home page at www.oksenate.gov or call the Senate switchboard at 405-524-0126.

Support is growing in Oklahoma and nationwide to legalize medical marijuana, and Sen. Constance N. Johnson has once again filed legislation to allow for the use of medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. Senate Bill 573 would create the “Compassionate Use Act of 2011”.
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The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation Tuesday that will help to secure quality, high paying aerospace jobs in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 3, authored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, passed unanimously.

“This legislation encourages private sector job growth in one of our best industries,” said Sen. Mike Mazzei. “I applaud all members of the Senate Finance Committee for being a part of this common sense legislation that has helped to create and retain good jobs in Oklahoma.”

State Sen. David Holt says the results of a just-released poll show Oklahomans strongly support his legislation to reduce the state’s income tax rate. SoonerPoll.com and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs released an independent, scientific, statewide poll on Friday that shows Oklahomans want the Legislature to lower the income tax and boost Oklahoma’s economy as a result.
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Senate Education Chairman John Ford offered a second bill on Monday to restructure the State Board of Education. The measure, Senate Bill 435, was approved by the Education Committee by a vote of 9 to 5.

“Up until 1971, the Board included the State Superintendent, the Governor, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State,” Ford explained. “After that time the law was changed to make the Board of Education appointed by the Governor. Senate Bill 435 would take the Board back to its original structure.”

State Sen. Clark Jolley has won approval from the Senate Education Committee for a pair of bills aimed at improving Oklahoma’s public schools. Jolley said Senate Bill 346 would prohibit social promotion to better ensure children can actually read at grade level before moving to the next grade.
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State Sen. Josh Brecheen has won committee approval for legislation aimed at better shielding mourners of fallen soldiers from protestors. Senate Bill 406 was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

Current law bans protestors from picketing funerals for an hour before and after the service. They’re also prohibited from picketing any closer than 500 feet of where the funeral is being held. Brecheen’s legislation increases the moratorium on picketing to two hours before or after a service and increases the distance to 1000 feet.
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Six public hearings have been scheduled by the Senate Committee on Redistricting—the panel tasked with redrawing district boundaries utilizing the latest U.S. Census data. Senators Clark Jolley and Bryce Marlatt are co-chairs of the committee, and said the public hearings would give Oklahomans from every part of the state the opportunity to attend one of the hearings.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would establish criminal forfeiture provisions for crimes related to illegal immigration.

Sen. Dan Newberry on Wednesday will attend a farewell ceremony for 3,200 Oklahoma National Guard troops as they depart for Afghanistan. National Guard officials expect more than 16,000 to attend the 11:30 a.m. ceremony at the Oklahoma City Arena and Cox Convention Center.

The deployment of the 45th Infantry Brigade will be the largest ever for the Oklahoma National Guard.