“Secretary Coffee is a dear friend and a leader of immense talent. Though I am saddened by the news of his departure as Secretary of State, I know Glenn will continue to serve Oklahomans for many years to come—for that I am thankful. His contributions to building a common-sense, conservative majority cannot be measured. He is, and always will be, a public servant. The state of Oklahoma, without a doubt, is better off because of Glenn’s public service. I wish him the absolute best in his future endeavors.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, announced Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman for standing committees and Chair and Vice Chairs of all Appropriations Subcommittees today.

“I am proud to work with an outstanding group of leaders dedicated to advancing a pro-jobs, pro-growth legislative agenda,” said Bingman. “This team of chairs and vice chairs will steer important legislative committees focused on solutions to the challenges facing our state.”

The State Senate’s committee Chairs and Vice Chairs for the coming session:

State Sen. Darrell Weaver has been appointed to four Senate committees for the 57th Legislature. Weaver, R-Moore, will serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Energy, the Public Safety Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary.

Oklahoma City has moved ahead with plans to take an additional 30,000 acre-feet of water from Canton Lake in the western part of the state. State Sen. Bryce Marlatt said he learned Tuesday that Oklahoma City had instructed the Army Corps of Engineers to begin transferring the water on Wednesday morning. The entire process will take approximately three weeks.

Following last fall’s interim study of the state’s seven veteran centers and the Oklahoma Department of Veteran’s Affairs (ODVA), Sen. Frank Simpson has filed several bills to address problems brought to light by veterans’ families and facility employees.

Senator David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, has introduced legislation to make "Black Friday" sales and other low-price retail sales legal in Oklahoma. Under current law, which was originally enacted in 1941, retailers must sell products for at least six percent more than they paid for it. A December 2011 opinion from the Oklahoma Attorney General confirmed that state law bars all “Black Friday” and other low-price sales, even if they are only temporary.

Taking an additional 30,000 acre-feet of water from Canton Lake would only be a temporary fix for Oklahoma City’s water woes, but the immediate and long-term impact on western Oklahoma would be devastating, with repercussions for the entire state, said State Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward. He urged Oklahoma City officials to be better stewards of the resource—and better neighbors to Western Oklahoma.

Senator David Holt (R – Oklahoma City) and Senator Jabar Shumate (D – Tulsa) have introduced the “Parent Empowerment Act”, Senate Bill 1001, which will give Oklahoma parents the power to force a dramatic change in their students’ underperforming schools.

With budget review hearings slated to begin next week and the 2013 Legislative Session right around the corner, the State Senate on Friday announced a new website dedicated to giving members of the public and the press instantaneous access to the research materials and other presentations Senators will use as they develop the Fiscal 2014 budget.

The deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the first session of the 54th Legislature was 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 17th. By that deadline 1119 bills and 34 joint resolutions filed. Last year at this time, a total of 972 bills and 45 joint resolutions were filed with 753 Senate Bills and 41 Senate Joint Resolutions carried over from the 2011 session.