Press Releases

A bill to reduce the amount of mercury allowed in childhood vaccinations was approved by the Oklahoma Senate today on a bipartisan 27-17 vote.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, author of Senate Bill 1407, said the purpose of the bill was to remove a substance that causes some parents to have concern about childhood vaccinations.

Sen. Jonathan Nichols has won overwhelming approval for a measure to protect the right of victims to discuss their religious beliefs or reference the bible when giving impact statements in court. The measure, Senate Bill 2004, was approved Wednesday 43 to 2.

Steffanie’s Law Protects Seriously Ill Patients

The Oklahoma State Senate today approved legislation in a bipartisan vote making Oklahoma the 24th state to require health insurance plans to pay the cost of routine medical care for participants in a clinical trial.

The bill’s principal author, State Sen. Andrew Rice (D-OKC), called the vote a “significant victory for patients who assume that playing by the rules and paying their premiums on time means that their insurance company can’t walk away from them”.

The state Senate on Wednesday approved legislation that would establish a misdemeanor for the public playing of obscene music in vehicles.

Authored by Sen. Jeff Rabon, Senate Bill 2021 would make the playing of any loud, obscene music or continuous noise from a vehicle illegal, provided that the noise can be heard at a distance of 50 feet or further from the vehicle.

The full Senate has given its approval to a bill that could privatize the state’s education lottery. Sen. John Ford said the lottery has not made as much money for education as supporters had claimed. He said privatization might create a more efficient operation.

The Senate on Monday unanimously approved a measure intended to make Oklahoma schools some of the nations safest.

SB 1941, the Oklahoma School Security Act, includes numerous provisions to secure school facilities, reduce school violence and bullying and involve school administrators in making their schools safer places for students and staff. Sen. Todd Lamb, author of the bill, said he was pleased the Senate approved a measure that could help combat the growing problem of school violence.

An unlicensed driver who causes an injury or fatality accident would face stiffer penalties under legislation approved by the full Senate. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is author of Senate bill 1599, which was approved unanimously on Tuesday.

“Last summer, there were two accidents in my district, each involving a person driving with a suspended license. In each accident a child died,” Leftwich said. “I was shocked to learn the most those drivers could be charged with was a misdemeanor. That’s barely a slap on the wrist.”

Detailed information contained on digital driver licenses is supposed to be used for public safety purposes—but right now, there is no law protecting individuals from having that information used for other purposes, including identity theft.
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The Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation Tuesday by a 47-0 vote, creating a 13-member task force to examine the HIV/AIDS problem in Oklahoma’s minority communities and make recommendations for action.

Senate Bill 1829, was authored by State Senator Judy Eason-McIntyre, D-Tulsa, and co-authored by Senator Constance N. Johnson, D-Oklahoma County. It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Oklahoma Senate adopted a key piece of the Senate Republicans’ agenda to make state government more accountable and innovative.

SB 1865 by Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee creates the Office of Accountability and Innovation within the Legislative Service Bureau. The bill was adopted by 41 to 6 vote.

The state Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to increase penalties for the malicious injury or destruction of private property. Sen. Anthony Sykes, author of the legislation, said the bill is a response to the growing problem of ‘tagging’, or the defacing or destruction of property with graffiti.

Sykes said the crime is not only becoming an increasingly more frequent nuisance in urban areas but is also occurring in Oklahoma’s smaller communities.

By a vote of 31 to 16 the Oklahoma Senate adopted legislation to speed up the elimination of the state’s death tax by one year. The bill would have no impact on the upcoming budget year.

State Senator Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, authored the legislation.

“The death tax is a burden to farmers and small businesses in Oklahoma, so Senate Republicans believe this tax should be eliminated sooner rather than later,” said Johnson. “This is tight budget year, so we structured the bill so it does not impact the upcoming budget year.”

The Oklahoma Senate approved an amendment today that could ultimately give Oklahoma families a way to preserve umbilical cord blood and the life-saving adult stem cells in it.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm submitted the amendment to Senate Bill 1708, a measure by Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee on organ donations. The amendment and the bill were both passed with bipartisan majorities.

A bill proposing the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) to protect domestic abuse victims passed by a unanimous vote today in the Oklahoma State Senate. Authored by State Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, Senate Bill 2163 uses available technology to better protect Oklahoma citizens.

Leftwich said using all available resources and cutting-edge technologies to make Oklahoma safer is responsible government.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed key pro-life legislation that provides protection to pro-life healthcare providers.

Senate Bill 1878 by Senator Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, creates the Freedom of Conscience Act, which protects the rights of healthcare providers to refuse to take part in the destruction of human life.

Protection under this legislation is provided to employees or prospective employees who have objections, based on their religious conviction or moral code, to such scenarios as participating in or performing an abortion, stem cell research, or euthanasia.

“I have to wonder why it took Senator Williamson so long to bring the concerns he has on Senate Bill 2114 to light.

“I wish Senator Williamson would have brought his concerns to me personally, or brought them up in debate on the floor last Thursday rather than through a press release five days after the bill was brought up for consideration.

Senate Bill 2114, a key component of the Senate Democrats’ 2008 legislative agenda, would force insurance companies to pay for sex change operations and cosmetic surgeries for any patient who could get a “health care professional” to declare the procedure is “medically necessary.”

A Democrat-authored insurance mandate bill would force insurance companies to pay for abortions, gutting a key reform that was adopted as part of a landmark 2007 pro-life law.

Sen. James A. Williamson, who authored the 2007 law, called on pro-life legislators in both parties to oppose a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2114, which failed last week to garner the 25 votes needed for passage. Democrat leaders in the Senate have said they plan to bring the bill up for reconsideration this week.

On Monday the State Senate overwhelming passed a major piece of the Senate Republicans’ plan to improve funding for roads and bridges.

Senate Bill 1396, by Senator Brian Bingman, removes a 3% growth trigger on roads and bridges that has prevented increased transportation funding the past two years. It also redirects existing motor vehicle taxes from the general revenue fund to roads and bridges over a 5 year period.

An amendment that would require health insurance policies to cover diagnosis, treatment and therapy for autism disorders passed the Oklahoma Senate on a bipartisan vote today.

The plan, called “Nick’s Law,” will give Oklahoma families a better opportunity to fight a disability affecting more children than ever. Both Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, and Senator Mary Easley, D-Tulsa, proposed amendments to a pair of bills that were subsequently approved and sent to the House of Representatives.