Sen. Rick Brinkley, Chair of the Senate Pension Committee, issued the following comments after presenting House Bill 2630 for final approval by the Senate on Wednesday. The bill creates a defined-contribution pension system for new employees, while current state employees, teachers and those designated as “hazardous duty” will remain under the existing defined-benefit plan.

“We disagree with Mr. Fent’s assessment and are hopeful the courts will as well. When the people of Oklahoma added this provision to our state’s constitution in 1992, it was clear that it was meant to protect Oklahomans from tax hikes, not tax cuts. We believe the courts will agree that this lawsuit represents a manipulation of the intent of this constitutional provision and will be thrown out, allowing Oklahomans to see a reduction in their taxes as promised.” –Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on Senate passage of House Bill 2562, which sets the state’s gross production tax rate at 2 percent for any new wells drilled in the state for the first 36 months of production, followed by a permanent rate of 7 percent thereafter.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on House Joint Resolution 1033, which will allow for the issuance of up to $120 million in bond indebtedness with a 10-year repayment term to repair the state Capitol.

The Senate concluded the 2nd session of the 54th Legislature a week ahead of schedule Friday.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said the session was challenging, yet productive, citing many accomplishments passed into law this year, including:

Sens. Josh Brecheen and Anthony Sykes issued the following statements after today’s Senate approval of House Bill 3399. The measure, approved by a vote of 31 to 10, repeals the Common Core standards and prevents federal control over standards and assessments.

Sen. Josh Brecheen, Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Jason Nelson issued the following statements after Tuesday’s Senate vote on HB 3399. The measure, which passed on a vote of 37 to 10, calls for the adoption of new English and math standards created by Oklahomans and prevents direct or indirect federal control over those standards and assessments.

A bill aimed at providing more resources for Oklahoma schools has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. In its current form, House Bill 2642, also known as the “Securing Educational Excellence Fund,” by Sen. Jim Halligan in the Senate and Rep. Lee Denney in the House, would divide current “off the top” funding that now goes to transportation and give half of that amount to public schools.

A bill extending tax incentives credited with creating hundreds of high-paying aerospace engineering jobs in Oklahoma is awaiting Gov. Mary Fallin’s consideration. House Bill 2509, by Sen. Mike Mazzei and Rep. Earl Sears, won final approval by the full Senate on Thursday. Without the legislation, those incentives would expire in 2015. Mazzei said the tax credits have a proven record of creating high-paying jobs in the state.
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A bill requiring current photos of registered sex offenders in the state has been signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin. Senate Bill 1444, by Sen. David Holt and Rep. Elise Hall, will provide for updated photographs for Oklahoma’s online sex offender registry.

Under the provisions of SB 1444, when sex offenders check in with local law enforcement, which they are already required to do, their photo must be updated if it is more than a year old.
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