Senate Dem Leader Kay Floyd discusses week three of the session with reporters.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, Senate Health and Human Services Vice Chair
Greg McCortney, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, Senate Appropriations Chairman
Roger Thompson and Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Jason Smalley discuss prolife bill,
budget and criminal justice reform.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday to ensure young Oklahomans do not miss their first elections. Sen. Jason Smalley is the author of Senate Bill 496 to allow those who are at least 17.5 years old to pre-register to vote.

Currently, a 17-year-old can pre-register to vote 60 days before an election as long as they will turn 18 on or before election day. SB 496 will allow all Oklahomans to pre-register to vote at 17.5 years of age.
read more.

The Senate voted Monday to protect county court documents by digitizing them. Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, is the author of Senate Bill 483, which assesses a $10 fee for filing a civil case to be deposited in the Court Clerk’s Records Management and Preservation Fund.
read more.

A measure to build a statewide aerospace training facility cleared both the Senate Education and the Appropriation and Budget committees this week and is now headed to the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 432, authored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education to acquire or lease property for the purpose of creating the statewide aerospace training facility. Under the measure, the State Board would establish admission standards and the curriculum requirements.
read more.

Following the discovery of a $30 million slush fund at the state Department of Health last year, a multi-county grand jury made seven recommendations to prevent future financial deceit by state agencies. Sen. Paul Scott has authored legislation to implement one of those recommendations by punishing state employees who hide public funds under their control.
read more.

State Senator Bruce Price will hold an important new leadership post in the Oklahoma Legislature when he returns to the State Capitol for the next legislative session.

The Hinton legislator was named chairman of the Senate Science and Technology Committee today, a new panel which will focus on technological changes affecting areas ranging from industry to education to the environment.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced the appointment today, saying Senator Price is a "perfect fit" for the new committee.

Oklahoma's oil industry, already reeling from a lengthy price slump, is in danger of losing tens of thousands of wells and energy-related jobs if it doesn't receive speedy assistance from the state. That was the testimony of industry leaders who appeared before a special task force at the State Capitol today.

Calling it a "realistic and responsible" way to deliver tax relief to working Oklahomans, Senator Lewis Long filed legislation today which would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries and reduce personal income taxes, replacing the lost revenue by tightening up the state's current exemptions on sales taxes.

Citing new figures from the State Equalization Board, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee is predicting a difficult budget year for state lawmakers.

The state panel revealed its preliminary estimate for the coming fiscal year today, showing the state would have approximately $14 million less to spend in FY 2000.