May is National Lupus Awareness Month and this week, the Senate approved a resolution to help raise awareness of the disease that kills more women each year than breast cancer. Senate Resolution 55, authored by Sen. Constance N. Johnson, recognizes May 3, 2012 as Lupus Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

“Lupus is a devastating disease that strikes many women in the prime of their lives. It not only impacts women, but their families who have to deal with the complications and consequences of this horrible disease,” said Johnson, D-Oklahoma County.
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Legislation sent to the desk of Governor Mary Fallin on Wednesday by the state Senate would initiate an energy conservation program for state agencies, institutions and assets that would result in hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars being saved. Senate Bill 1096, authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, creates the Oklahoma State Facilities Energy Conservation Program and directs all state agencies and higher education institutions to achieve an energy efficiency and conservation improvement target of at least 20 percent by the year 2020.

Sen. Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, co-author of House Bill 2941, released the following statement after Wednesday’s House passage of the anti-meth legislation. Principally authored by Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso, HB 2941 implements significant improvements to Oklahoma’s electronic pseudoephedrine (PSE) blocking system and calls for reasonable reductions to the amount of PSE an individual can purchase.

Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage said his caucus would not support any bond proposals this legislative session as long as there’s still a push to cut state income taxes.

For the first time in Oklahoma history, the State Senate has officially become part of the confirmation process for the Judiciary. On Tuesday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by State Sen. Anthony Sykes, gave recommendations on four judicial nominees for the State Workers’ Compensation Court.

“This change is a part of our ongoing effort to bring important reform to Oklahoma’s workers compensation system,” explained Sykes, R-Moore. “Involving the Senate in the process gives our citizens greater input, and I think that’s an important and positive reform.” read more.

Legislation aimed at closing legal loopholes in deaths resulting from designer drugs has been signed into law. Senate Bill 987, by Senator Susan Paddack and Rep Tom Newell, expands the definition of murder in the first degree to include deaths resulting from the manufacture or distribution of a synthetic, or “designer drug” as well as the manufacturing of drugs that result in a death, as in a meth lab explosion. Gov. Mary Fallin signed the bill into law on Tuesday.
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Sen. Jim Wilson today said an effort by Sen. Clark Jolley to build a new medical examiner’s facility in his Edmond district has triggered the request of an opinion from the Attorney General, and has clouded the bond rating of every institution of higher education in Oklahoma.
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Eight legislators from Northeastern Oklahoma have united to voice their opposition to the Grand River Dam Authority Board (GRDA) of Directors’ plans to purchase an office building in Tulsa. The lawmakers have sent a letter to the Board calling the plan “an assault upon and insult to Northeastern Oklahoma.”
State Sen. Sean Burrage said the group is against the GRDA’s planned purchase of a 40,000 square foot office building in Tulsa—a community not served by the electric company.
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State Sen. Susan Paddack said a new state law will help speed up the process for upgrading certification for real estate appraisers. Paddack’s legislation, Senate Bill 1493, co-authored by Rep. Todd Thomsen, was signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin on Tuesday. The idea for the legislation came from a constituent who was frustrated with the certification process.
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Two important veterans bills will soon be on their way to the Governor’s desk after the Senate gave them overwhelming approval Tuesday. Sen. Steve Russell authored Senate Bills 1951 and 1905, which address concerns related to military divorces and health care.
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