State Sen. Tom Dugger said he’s looking forward to the upcoming legislative session.  The Stillwater Republican said his first official votes will come during the Senate’s organizational day on January 3, 2017, when members officially elect their leadership for the next two years and adopt rules for conducting legislative business. 

OKLAHOMA CITY –   State Senator Mark Allen has been appointed to chair the Senate Transportation committee by incoming Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz.  Allen was also recently elected to serve in a leadership role as Majority Whip and was appointed as Sportsman’s Caucus Chairman by the Pro Tem’s office.

Sen. Julie Daniels has been named to several key committees for the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions.

Daniels will serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee; Judiciary; Business Commerce and Tourism; General Government; and the Subcommittee on Human Services.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   Newly elected state Senator Micheal Bergstrom was selected this week to serve on several Senate standing committees and two appropriations subcommittees for the upcoming first session of the 56th state legislature.   Bergstrom, who worked for years as a teacher before being elected last month to serve in the state Senate, will serve on the Education committee, as well as the Business, Commerce and Tourism committee.  He was also tapped by Senate President Pro Tempore-designate Mike Schulz to serve on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance as well as the Appropriations read more.

Sen. Stephanie Bice has been picked for another leadership position in the State Senate—for the next two years, she will be the chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation.  Bice was hand-picked to serve as chair by incoming Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz. Bice was also recently chosen by Senate Republican Caucus to serve as Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

Sen. James Leewright has been named vice chair of the Senate’s committee on Business, Commerce and Tourism for the 56th Legislature.  Leewright, a former state representative, was the only new member of the Senate chosen for a vice chairmanship by incoming President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   Senator Marty Quinn was selected this week to serve as Vice-Chair of the Senate Retirement and Insurance committee of the 56th legislature.  The Senate Retirement and Insurance committee is currently comprised of eight Senators.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve on this standing Senate committee, as retirement and insurance are two areas of specific concern for many in our state” said Quinn, R- Claremore.  “I’m ready to get to work and focus on the issues facing Oklahoma as we seek long-term solutions and ways to prosper and move our state forward.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) recently named Sen. Kay Floyd as a 2016 Elected Women of Excellence Award winner.  The award was established in 2013 as part of NFWL’s 75th Anniversary Celebration in order to honor the hard work and dedication of women leaders from across the country.

Although Stephanie Bice is still in her first term in the Oklahoma State Senate, she’s been elevated to a key leadership role for the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions.  Bice has been elected by the Senate Republican Caucus to serve as Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the Senate.

Julie Daniels is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 29.  The Bartlesville Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.