Sens. Anthony Sykes and Dan Newberry Wednesday said the Legislature has acted to protect religious liberty with the passage of Senate Bill 788 and House Bill 1007. Authored by Newberry, SB 788 would prevent any church or clergyman from being required to solemnize a marriage in violation of his or her right to the free exercise of religion as protected under the First Amendment.
Newberry said the passage of SB 788 marked an important victory for clergy members.

The arrest of an unlicensed bounty hunter in Oklahoma City Thursday indicates a new law is working like it’s supposed to, according to the Senate author.
The Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act, authored by Sen. Ralph Shortey in 2013, requires all bail enforcers in Oklahoma to undergo training, psychological testing and a background check before being licensed by the state Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). Anyone working as a bail enforcer in Oklahoma without a license could be charged with a felony. The law went into effect earlier this year on Feb. 1. read more.

A medical pilot program using cannabidiol, a derivative linked to marijuana, has cleared both Senate and House chambers and is now heading to the Governor’s office.

House Bill 2154, co-authored by State Rep. Jon Echols and Sen. Brian Crain, creates Katie and Cayman’s Law, and would legalize clinical trials using CBD, a non-intoxicating derivative of marijuana. Previous medical studies suggest this product can be used to effectively treat children and adults who suffer from epileptic seizures and help reduce the number and intensity of those seizures.
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President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today issued the following statement on the passing of former Senator Philip Watson. Watson, a Republican, represented District 41 in the Oklahoma Senate from 1972 to 1987.

“Philip Watson admirably served his Senate district for 15 years, before being appointed as director of the Department of Human Services. His legacy of service stretched beyond Oklahoma to Africa, where he performed mission work and touched the lives of many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time of loss.”

The full Senate on Wednesday advanced legislation that would develop a system for evaluating tax credits and economic incentives to determine their effectiveness. Authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, Senate Bills 806 and 815 would establish a process to provide lawmakers with independent evaluations of economic incentives, and a clear picture of those that encourage growth and those that do not.
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(For digital audio, go to www.oksenate.gov and select Media)

On Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman appointed Senator Jason Smalley to serve as a member of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). The nonpartisan organization that works with policymakers, researchers and practitioners at all levels of education, from pre-K to postsecondary, tracking state policy trends, translating academic research, providing unbiased advice and creating opportunities for state leaders to learn from one another.
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Members of the Oklahoma Black Caucus responded Monday afternoon to a video that depicts members of the University of Oklahoma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chanting a song laced with racial slurs.
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Two measures reforming tax incentives for future wind farms in Oklahoma have cleared another legislative hurdle. The full Senate on Tuesday gave approval to Senate Bill 498 and Senate Bill 501. Sen. Mike Mazzei is principal author of the measures, which would take effect beginning January 1, 2016.
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The Senate passed a bill Tuesday to provide the State Regents of Higher Education more flexibility when deciding students’ eligibility for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP). Sen. Corey Brooks is the author of Senate Bill 137, which would direct the Regents to create an appeals process for students denied OHLAP because of their families’ special financial situations.
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