A program that began as a way to encourage private/public partnerships to divert women from prison is being expanded to all state agencies. The full Senate voted in favor of Senate Bill 210 on Monday, creating the Pay for Success Act. State Sen. Roger Thompson is the principal author of the measure, which he describes as a way to create new programs to solve wide-ranging challenges in government without risking public dollars.
read more.

President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Monday announced appointments the senate leader has made to various boards and commissions.
“Public service to the great state of Oklahoma comes in many forms, and I appreciate these women and men for agreeing to step in and serve their fellow citizens,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.
read more.

A measure to prohibit the use of state funds for recruitment bonuses for teachers failed narrowly in the Senate 22-20 Tuesday. Retired educator Sen. Ron Sharp said he authored Senate Bill 57 to stop the unfair practice of virtual charter schools rewarding teachers financially with state appropriated dollars for successfully recruiting other teachers and students to their schools in the middle of the school year.
read more.

The full Senate has given approval to a bill aimed at ensuring more state contracts are awarded to Oklahoma businesses. Sen. Rob Standridge is the principal author of Senate Bill 376, the Oklahoma First Act.

Standridge said the exact mechanisms are still being honed as the bill moves through the legislative process, but noted the concept is a simple one.
read more.

Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Mark Lepak will attend a White House event on Thursday to hear President Trump speak about protecting First Amendment rights on college campuses. He is expected to sign an executive order tying the receipt of federal research funding to universities’ actions to ensure freedom of expression on campus. The two legislators received the invitation because of their work on a bill to protect freedom of expression on Oklahoma campuses.

Following a recent series of racially driven and hostile occurrences at the University of Oklahoma campus, State Senator and Legislative Black Caucus Chair George E. Young, Sr. met with OU President James Gallogly and other caucus members on Thursday to discuss reforms aimed at developing diversity and tolerance.

Young said the caucus specifically outlined several requests at the meeting, including:

House and Senate Democratic Unified Agenda

Senate Democratic Caucus Agenda Legislation

House Democratic Caucus Agenda Legislation

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat commended the many advocates gathering at the Oklahoma Capitol on Wednesday for the annual “Rose Day” pro-life celebration.
read more.

Acknowledging the importance of aerospace and aviation in Oklahoma and the industry’s influence on a growing workforce and impact on the state’s economy, State Senator Adam Pugh led the first meeting of the newly-formed Aerospace Caucus at the state Capitol this week.
read more.

The full Senate has given approval to a measure aimed at helping save lives if students overdose on opioids while at school. State Sen. Greg McCortney is the author of Senate Bill 85, which adds school nurses or other designated employees to those who can administer life-saving opiate antagonists. The bill was approved Tuesday unanimously.