OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Tom Woods, R-Westville, issued the following statement Monday after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin.

“I extend my sincere congratulations to fellow Westville, Oklahoman Markwayne Mullin on his confirmation to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, today passed Senate Bill 1833 off the Senate floor by a 38-to-6 vote, sending the measure to the House of Representatives. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has advanced legislation to put guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in Oklahoma schools and ensure parents have a say in how the technology is used in their child’s classroom.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, issued the following statement regarding her absence from the Senate chamber on Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24. Boren will be away from the Capitol to attend the funeral services for her beloved aunt, Melody Goode Harrison.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, secured unanimous Senate approval Tuesday for legislation to allow expert testimony to be admissible as evidence in human trafficking cases.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate today passed Senate Bill 1481 from Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, to double recess time for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Seifried’s legislation would increase the minimum amount of daily recess to 40 minutes for elementary school students and those in full-day kindergarten programs.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate advanced Senate Bill 1250 this week, a measure authored by Senator Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, to provide greater transparency for parents and ensure available school library materials do not contain or depict obscene material, sexually explicit content, nudity, or other material that is harmful to minors.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, today received passage of two bills that strengthen reporting requirements for potential sexual offenses by ensuring law enforcement is promptly notified of complaints that could require sex offender registration and by requiring school employees to quickly report suspected abuse or misconduct involving students.

Both pieces of legislation are supported by the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, has advanced legislation to strengthen Oklahoma’s research and development incentive program that encourages greater collaboration between businesses and higher education institutions.

The bill passed off the Senate floor today by a vote of 36-to-4.