OKLAHOMA CITY Senate leadership on Wednesday were cautiously optimistic about next years budget after a state board certified an estimated $612 million in new funding for the upcoming budget year.

However, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Thompson both said lawmakers and the public should not set unattainable expectations for next year.

The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a bill to give court reporters throughout the state a $2,000 pay increase. State Sen. Roger Thompson is the author of SB 349 which was approved by the Senate Wednesday. Thompson, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said because court reporters’ salaries are specified in Oklahoma statute, last year’s state employee pay increase didn’t apply to them. He said it was a technicality that needed to be corrected.
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The full Senate has given unanimous approval in the Senate for legislation exempting the American Legion from state sales taxes on goods and services. House Bill 1003, by Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson and House Majority Leader Mike Sanders, was approved by the full Senate on Wednesday.
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A bill designed to promote innovation without risking tax dollars has been approved by the Senate and is now heading to the governor for his consideration. Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson is Senate principal author of House Bill 2670, the Pay for Success Act, which was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate Tuesday. The House principal author for the measure is Rep. Kevin Wallace, Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee.
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The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to the state budget, which includes huge investments in public school classrooms, a teacher and state employee pay raise, as well as significant investments in criminal justice reforms all while saving $200 million.

The Fiscal Year 2020 budget bill, House Bill 2765, passed on a 37-11 vote.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat has named Senator Roger Thompson as co-chair of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) oversight committee.

Senate Bill 1, signed into law recently, created LOFT to serve as an independent office to provide the Legislature and the public with objective data on agency budgets and programs. LOFT will be overseen by bipartisan committee of Senate and House members. The Senate president pro tempore and the House speaker each name a co-chairs and members of the oversight committee.
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State Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, issued the following statement on Tuesday thanking Glen Johnson, Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, for his service and leadership on behalf of the state. Johnson plans to retire from that position at the end of 2020.
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Media and internet attention over a ruling handed down by the federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals from last winter has resulted in confusion and misinformation, said State Sen. Roger Thompson.

Last February, the federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling that said a Fort Collins, Colorado city ordinance banning women from going topless violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause because it was gender specific.

State Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, issued the following statement on Monday following the news that former Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, had passed away. Thompson was elected to the District 8 seat in 2014 after Ballenger announced his retirement from the Senate after eight years of service.

“Roger Ballenger was the epitome of a dedicated public servant. He represented the citizens of District 8 with integrity and was extremely gracious and helpful to me when I was elected to the Senate.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson has filed a bill to reform the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act. Thompson, R-Okemah, said the legislation will create government efficiencies while modernizing state agency spending.