Sen. John Sparks, D-Norman, and Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, filed legislation Tuesday to resolve Oklahoma’s ongoing non-compliance with the Real ID Act of 2005.

Sen. Clark Jolley on Thursday said an agreement has been reached to relocate the State Medical Examiner’s Office to the Oklahoma County Health Department building. Jolley said the agreement would result in significant savings and help the Medical Examiner’s Office to restore its accreditation.

State Sen. Anastasia A. Pittman has announced an interim study focusing on school preparedness for kindergarten students in Oklahoma. The study is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27 in room 419C at the State Capitol.
read more.

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) joined with the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, the Oklahoma Policy Institute, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma at the state Capitol on Thursday to release the results of a recent poll commissioned by OCPA and OKPolicy.
read more.

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.