Two measures calling for sweeping restrictions on public smoking have cleared the State Senate. After narrowly defeating Senate Bill last week, the measure was brought up for reconsideration Monday morning and passed by a vote of 32 to . Senator Ben Robinson is principal author of SB , which would extend a smoking ban to all indoor workplaces, including restaurants. The measure does include some exemptions including standalone bars, retail tobacco products and medical facilities conducting smoking research.

Statement by Senator Cal Hobson

State Capitol, Oklahoma City The decision by Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, DLexington, and other Democrat leaders to obstruct education funding in the Legislature is now leading to teacher layoffs. Republicans warned early on that if the Legislature failed to pass education funding before March st, school boards would be forced to assume the worst and start issuing pink slips to teachers.

Oklahoma State Senate Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 30 For Immediate Release: March 3, 2003 Clip Senators Say Incentive Legislation Pays Off

State Senator Daisy Lawler says a bill aimed at teaching inmates to read is headed for the House of Representatives. Thats after Senate Bill cleared the full Senate last week. Senator Lawler said the program could give inmates the skills they need to stay out of prison once their time is served. Study after study shows us the same thing theres a link between crime and illiteracy. Here in Oklahoma, 0 percent of all inmates read at or below the th grade level. The research says if a person cant read, theyre much more likely to wind up either on welfare or in prison, explained Lawler.

Oklahoma State Senate Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 30 For Immediate Release: April 30, 2003 Clip
LR Rep. Tad Jones, Sen. Mike Johnson, Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson and Rep. Susan Winchester talk about education funding levels for FY 0
Public Education Funding Increasing by

For years, raffles have been a tried and true fundraiser for many nonprofit organizations throughout Oklahoma. However, under current law, its illegal. But that could be changing now that the State Senate has given final approval to SB 3.
The bill, which was written by Senator Frank Shurden, DHenryetta, and coauthored by Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, DArdmore, and Representative Don Armes, RFaxon, would make charitable raffles legal in Oklahoma.

A bill to protect money Oklahomans put aside for their childrens education is now law, after Governor Brad Henry approved Senate Bill 32 by Senator Mike Morgan, DStillwater and Representative Debbie Blackburn, DOKC on Tuesday.
Senator Morgan explained that without SB 32, if an individual were sued and a court handed down a judgment against them, funds set aside in an Oklahoma College Savings plan could have been seized to help pay that judgment.

Oklahoma State Senate Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 30 For Immediate Release: April 29, 2003 Clip
Senate President Pro Tempore
Cal Hobson
Senator Hobson Comments on Investigative Audit

Senator Keith Leftwich, author of Senate Bill 3, cleared the final legislative hurdle today. The Democrat from South Oklahoma City enabled final passage of the bill on the Senate floor. The bill will change the date of the Presidential Primary to the first Tuesday in February and is now on its way to the Governors desk for his approval. By making the primary election date so early in the game, SB 3 will place Oklahoma at the forefront of the Presidential Primary and will also draw candidates to campaign in our state, said Senator Leftwich.