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.
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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.
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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 Under current law, which was originally enacted in 1941, retailers must sell products for at least six percent more than they paid for it.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. read more.

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.
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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.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today applauded the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that Senate Bill 1246 does not violate the state Constitution. Bingman was the principal author of the measure, which will reduce the state’s income tax rate as Oklahoma’s revenues grow. “The state Supreme Court got this one right,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “The language and intent of State Question 640 are very clear – to prevent tax increases without a vote of the people or a supermajority. read more.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today announced committee chair and vice chair assignments for all standing committees and appropriations subcommittees.

“I’m privileged to work with such an exceptional group of public servants,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “Their dedication and expertise will serve us well as we work to find solutions to the challenges faced by our state.”

The state Senate’s committee chairs and vice chairs for the 2014-2015 session are:

Members of the Altus High School Band will perform at the state Capitol this Tuesday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the fourth floor rotunda. The free concert, “From Infamy to Gallantry,” will pay tribute to the Oklahomans who served in World War II, and those from this state and throughout the country who served on the USS Oklahoma. The ship had the second highest loss of life in the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. More than 400 members of the crew died in the attack.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today announced committee assignments for Republican members.

“Oklahomans have given Republicans a historic majority in the state Senate,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “With 40 Senators, there is a considerable diversity of leadership and talent in the Republican caucus. I am proud to work with such a fine group of public servants as we advance an agenda to further our economic momentum.”

The State Senate’s committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and membership for the 2014-15 legislative session are:

Sen. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, issued the following statement on Wednesday announcing his decision to step down from his District 11 seat, effective January 6, 2015.

Most of my professional career has been dedicated to serving the people of north Tulsa in the Oklahoma Legislature. Its been an honor to represent the citizens of Senate District 11, and before that, the constituents of House District 73.

However, I was recently encouraged to pursue other opportunities that will allow me to continue to work to improve education and champion other issues I am passionate about.