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Oklahoma Senate
The Senate Floor Leader announced today the Senate will not hear Senate Bill 1764, which had been amended to include some language on the state’s Common Core State Standards. Instead, the Senate will continue to work with House and executive leadership on language to ensure no rash decisions are made and policy changes are carefully considered and vetted by all interested parties as to avoid unintended consequences.
read more.The full Senate voted unanimously on Thursday for legislation barring cell phone use in Oklahoma school zones. The measure was co-authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage.
Senate Bill 1601 makes it illegal for anyone operating a motor vehicle to use a wireless communications device in a school zone. It would not apply to cars that are stopped, drivers using hands-free devices, or emergency calls as outlined in the bill.
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The Senate Education Committee will consider House Bill 3399 on Monday. The measure provides for the development and adoption of new English and math standards and assessments while prohibiting the State Board of Education from entering into any contract or agreement with any federal agency or private entity that would cede or limit state control.
Sen. Josh Brecheen, R- Coalgate, and Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, are Senate co-authors of the measure.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement after Monday morning’s 11-0 vote approving House Bill 3399, calling for the adoption of new English and Math standards created by Oklahomans and preventing direct or indirect federal control over those standards or assessments.
Sen. Josh Brecheen and Sen. Anthony Sykes issued the following statement after Monday’s unanimous vote in favor of HB 3399. The two lawmakers are Senate co-authors of the measure, which was approved on a vote of 11-0.
On Monday, the State Senate unveiled a landscape painting depicting the historic event that put Oklahoma on the map, the Land Run of 1889. The work, by Oklahoma artist Wayne Cooper, was sponsored by Oklahoma City businessman Brad Naifeh.
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Reforms in administrative costs in education could free up millions of dollars that could be redirected to classrooms, according to Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City. He said a closer look at administrative spending shows Oklahoma needs to be smarter with how education funds are used.
“In the past decade, we’ve seen administrative costs skyrocket by up to 29 percent, but our student population has only increased by 11 percent,” Loveless said. “We need to make sure more of our education funds are going to expenditures that directly benefit students.”
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On Wednesday, February 5, hundreds of Oklahomans will visit the State Capitol for the 23rd annual Rose Day to ask legislators to support pro-life legislation this session. For the second year, Sen. Harry Coates is asking these citizens to do more than just advocate against abortion but to help Oklahoma’s hundreds of children in foster care by signing up to be a foster parent.
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