The full Senate has given its approval to the “Parent Empowerment Act.” Senate Bill 1001, authored by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, would enable parents to petition to make dramatic changes in their child’s underperforming school. The bill was approved 30 to 12 on Wednesday. Holt said the bill was based on a “parent trigger” concept that has been enacted in at least seven other states.
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Oklahomans took a step closer to paying lower prices this “Black Friday” and beyond with Senate passage Wednesday of Senate Bill 550, which would legalize low-price retail sales in Oklahoma for the first time since 1941. SB 550, authored by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, passed the full Senate 28 to 15.
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The full Senate has given approval to legislation that would reduce the state income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 4.75 percent. Senate Bill 585 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, would be fully effective in tax year 2015 and would cut income taxes by $250 million while actually enabling increased funding for core services, like education. The measure was approved 33 to 13on Monday.
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The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a measure aimed at making sure voters know if someone filing for office has a criminal background. Senate Bill 287, by Sen. Susan Paddack, would require additional information on the declaration of candidacy forms. She said currently, application forms for positions appointed by the Governor require far more information than forms required for those seeking public office.
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Legislation to help give Oklahomans more information about benefits versus costs for student loan debt has been approved by the full Senate. Sen. Jim Halligan is principal author of Senate Bill 156, also known as “Truth in Lending.”
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Legislation approved by the state Senate on Tuesday would expand the number of events that qualify under the Oklahoma Quality Events Incentive Act.
Authored by Sen. Dan Newberry, Senate Bill 976 would help the state attract and retain major events like the 2013 Bassmaster Classic, which drew a crowd of 106,850 to Tulsa. The attendance figure was a near-record for the event.
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In an effort to provide additional protections for Oklahoma seniors, a measure was approved by the Senate Tuesday to allow residents in nursing homes to install electronic monitoring devices in their private rooms. Senate Bill 587, by Sen. Ron Justice, would allow for such installation if the resident or their legal representative paid for the monitoring.
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The Oklahoma State Senate has given approval to a concurrent resolution calling on Congress to enact a balanced budget or see their pay reduced. Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, is author of SCR 1 urging citizens to demand Congress to enact a balanced federal budget beginning in fiscal year 2013.
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In an effort to restrain Oklahoma's state bond indebtedness, Sen. Josh Brecheen filed Senate Joint Resolution 10 this year. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday which would prohibit state annual debt service payments from exceeding 4.5 percent of the average of the general fund revenue for the preceding five fiscal years. Oklahoma's current ratio of net tax-supported debt as a percentage of the five year average of unrestricted revenue stands at approximately 3.4 percent.

The state Senate this week approved a measure that would broaden the number of high school graduates eligible for in-state tuition at Oklahoma colleges and universities.

Under Senate Bill 423, authored by Sen. John Sparks, individuals who receive a diploma from an Oklahoma high school will always be eligible for in-state tuition. Sparks said his bill would give more people an opportunity to further their education at Oklahoma colleges and universities and compete for high-paying jobs.
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