Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, has decided that the 2016 session will be his last to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature. Before being elected to the Senate in 2008, Halligan, who chairs the Appropriation Subcommittee on Education, was president of Oklahoma State University. He issued the following statement on Wednesday:

Sen. Bryce Marlatt on Tuesday said he intends to file legislation to give Oklahoma teachers an across the board pay increase in the coming legislative session. Marlatt said the state’s teacher shortage has reached a point of crisis, with school administrators across the state struggling to fill teaching vacancies.

The State Department of Education has received an unusually high number of requests for emergency teaching certifications, which allow candidates who have not completed standard education and training requirements to teach in state classrooms, he said.

I am shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Commissioner Costello. Oklahoma has lost a leader who had a unique passion for politics and took great pride in the work he did on behalf of all Oklahomans. He was a model public servant, and we are all better for the example and legacy he leaves behind. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time of mourning. Senate Pres. Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa

State Labor Commissioner Mark Costello was a kind, generous man. He had a heart for public service and a sincere desire to institute good public policy. We are all shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.Senate Democratic Leader John Sparks, D-Norman

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless withdrew his request Friday for an interim study of civil asset forfeiture in Oklahoma. The study was scheduled for September 1 at the Tulsa Police Academy. The location of the meeting quickly garnered criticism from the public, committee members and the media.

“I believe the topic of civil asset forfeiture is too important to be overshadowed by politics. I would prefer to hold an open and transparent discussion on civil asset forfeiture so both sides of the issue can go on the record to present their cases,” said Loveless, R-Oklahoma City.

Sen. Anthony Sykes on Monday said his committee will move forward with a scheduled study on the issue of civil asset forfeiture. A Tuesday meeting at the Tulsa Police Academy has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. after the author of the study requested to withdraw previously scheduled morning presentations.

The proposal was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sykes is chairman of the committee.

The Democrats of the Oklahoma State Senate have chosen Sen. John Sparks as leader of the Democratic Caucus. Sparks, of Norman, will succeed Sen. Randy Bass of Lawton. Sparks will take over from Bass as of this week.

“We are all grateful for Sen. Bass’ leadership this past session. His commitment to Democratic ideals is remarkable and his strong legislative efforts on behalf of Oklahoma’s children and families have been significant,” Sparks said.
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More Oklahoma students will be able to qualify for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) and attend college thanks to a new law that went into effect July 1. Sen. Corey Brooks was the principal author of Senate Bill 137, which allows the State Regents for Higher Education to review cases where a family’s income includes nontaxable military benefits or federal Social Security payments due to the death or disability of one or both parents.
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OKLAHOMA CITY Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, today reacted to the Oklahoma congressional delegations support of the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act (FAIR Act) legislation aimed at reforming civil asset forfeiture laws at the federal level.

I am pleased that our congressional delegation is standing up and co-sponsoring this important measure, said Loveless. Legislators across the country have been working to reform civil asset forfeiture laws, but meaningful reform cant happen until the federal government fixes things on their end.