OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association (OSA) recently honored Sen. Ron Sharp with its 2016 Legislative Award for his support of law enforcement.  This session, Sharp was the principal Senate author of Senate Bill 1070, an OSA request bill that limits liability for sheriff’s offices when their deputies work second jobs for mental health transport companies.  read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY –  Sen. Kevin Matthews is inviting citizens to an All Live Matter “Not in our Town” meeting tonight at 7:00PM at Morning Star Baptist Church, 1014 E. Pine Street, to discuss the recent tragic shootings of both African American citizens and police officers around the country in recent weeks.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the governor signed Senate Bill 1070 into law.  The bill, by Sen. Ron Sharp and Rep. Scott Biggs, will help keep law enforcement working on the streets rather than transporting mental health patients to hospitals and other facilities. 

            “This new law will allow police and deputies to focus on enforcing the law and protecting public safety rather than being a transport service,” said Sharp, R-Shawnee.  “They should not be pulled away from keeping our communities safe to drive mentally ill patients to various facilities.” 

State Sen. Kevin Matthews is encouraging North Tulsa young people to take advantage of a program to help them learn more about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and other skills and how they can tap into those to become entrepreneurs.  As part of that, he’s inviting boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in a field trip to Tulsa’s Hardesty Center Fab Lab this Saturday, March 7, at 9 a.m.   

A long-term plan to modernize Rogers County’s transportation infrastructure and ease growing congestion in Claremore was announced on Friday by Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, and Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore.  For the past several months, the two lawmakers have been working with Transportation Sec. Gary Ridley to secure support for a project to complete a new transportation corridor south of Claremore connecting State Highway 20 to the Will Rogers Turnpike.

Gore was well represented at the State Capitol this week with several people visiting for the governor’s state of the state address on Monday and for Rose Day on Wednesday, according to State Senator Mark Allen, R-Spiro.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three students from Senate District 18 were recently appointed to serve as delegates on the newly-formed Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.  Olivia Kuester from Coweta Junior High, Kristen Webb from Haskell High School and Amber Hatton-Hunt representing Wagoner High School/Indian Capital Tech attended their first meeting on Thursday morning in the Blue Room of the State Capitol.  read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   Sen. Marty Quinn was recently appointed to serve on the Joint Legislative Task Force on The Grand River Dam Authority by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz.  The Republican legislator from Claremore replaces Sen. Earl Garrison.

The task force was established to study the functions, activities, policies, procedures and expenditures performed by the district and any related issue the task force deems appropriate. 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Second grade students from Stephanie Payne’s class at Carnegie Elementary school were recently selected to decorate one of 26 Christmas trees inside the state Capitol, according to State Senator Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher.   Each year, schools across the state are invited to apply to be selected to participate in the decorating event in conjunction with the Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. 

TULSA – State Sen. Kevin Matthews and Rep. Regina Goodwin are disappointed in Tulsa County officials whose questionable transparency and lack of communication with local residents about recent public spending is once again raising concern within the community.