Press Releases

Passing on a wide bipartisan margin, the full Senate has given approval to the 2011 redistricting plan. Senate Bill 821 was approved Friday with a vote of 38 to 6. State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, and Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, were co-chairs of the Senate Committee on Redistricting. Jolley, who presented the plan to the full Senate, said he was extremely pleased by the vote as well as the final district lines approved by members.
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Sen. Greg Treat today applauded Gov. Mary Fallin’s signing of House Bill 1970 – a measure that will require physicians to administer abortion inducing drugs in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.

“Governor Fallin has been a consistent champion for the sanctity of life, and I’m very pleased she has signed this bill into law,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City. “Oklahoma is blessed to now have a governor who recognizes and defends the value of human life. This legislation protects women and the unborn from potentially deadly medicine.”

Governor Mary Fallin signed a measure into law Tuesday that will protect landowners from the threat of eminent domain when companies are looking for locations to build wind turbines. Sen. Ron Justice, the author of Senate Bill 124, said the new law is important given the growing interest and success of the wind industry in the state.
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Currently, the State of Oklahoma and tribal governments in the state issue and maintain their own license plates. Legislation signed into law Monday will address problems that state, county, city and tribal law enforcement officials are facing due to lack of access of each others’ car tag information.

With the signing of Senate Bill 324 Tuesday, boat owners will need to be cautious of how much they drink on the water. The new stricter law, which went into effect when signed, holds drivers of boats to the same standard as those on the road when it comes to drinking and driving.

The Senate Committee on Redistricting has completed its task of redrawing Senate district boundaries based on the 2010 U.S. Census. Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, and Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, are co-chairs of the committee. Jolley said it was a painstaking and difficult process, but in the end, the final boundaries were the result of a bipartisan effort and reflect a strong commitment to civil rights. The committee approved the proposal Wednesday afternoon.

Pension reform legislation championed by the State Senate has been signed into law today. Recommendations from the Senate Select Committee on Pensions were also released in a final report Tuesday, some of which became law the same day.

“Reducing the long term unfunded liability of our pension systems is the single most significant accomplishment of this legislature,” Bingman said. “With this legislation we are committed to a sound fiscal future and leaving our state stronger for our kids and grandkids.”

"After months of secret negotiations, the Republicans who run state government are finally ready to show all Oklahomans where their priorities lie. They have chosen corporate special interest tax breaks that will result in drastic cuts to important areas like public schools, senior nutrition centers, and public safety.

In a victory for school choice in Oklahoma, the state Senate today approved legislation to broaden the number of private school scholarships awarded to children from low-income households.

Senate Bill 969, the Oklahoma Equal Education Opportunity Scholarship Act, will give businesses and individuals the opportunity to provide low-income students with expanded educational opportunities.

Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Tommy Hardin were pleased when Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 742 into law earlier this week allowing for the regulated use of utility vehicles (UTVs) in certain instances on public roadways.

Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, a breast cancer survivor, proudly announced the release of two new “Fight Breast Cancer” license plates Thursday.

More women die of heart disease, stroke, and all other cardiovascular disease than the next five leading causes of death combined, including all cancers. For this reason, State Senators Kim David, Judy Eason-McIntyre, Constance Johnson and Susan Paddack wore red Thursday to show their support of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) efforts to improve heart health and save lives in Oklahoma.
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Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Tommy Hardin were pleased when Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 742 into law earlier this week allowing for the regulated use of utility vehicles (UTVs) in certain instances on public roadways.

After four years of advocating for stronger laws on boating under the influence, Sen. Bill Brown finally succeeded Tuesday when Senate Bill 324 passed the Senate unanimously. The measure now heads to the Governor’s office.

The full Senate has approved two redistricting measures. House Bill 2145 will provide for new district lines for the State House of Representatives. That measure now returns to the House for further consideration. The Senate also voted on Tuesday in favor of House Bill 1527, redrawing the boundaries for Oklahoma’s five congressional districts. That measure is now headed to Gov. Mary Fallin for her approval.

Today the Oklahoma Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 23, commending the United States Military, U.S. intelligence operations, President Bush and President Obama for the successful efforts of the War on Terror and in the Pakistan operation last night that ended the life of terrorist Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Two key education reforms are just one step away from becoming law. Senate Bill 346, which received final Senate approval on Monday, would end social promotion. The House gave final approval to House Bill 1456, which would create a report card for public schools. Sen. Clark Jolley is principal Senate author of both measures.
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“The only real limits are the ones you put on yourself.” Those are inspirational words, but even more so when you learn about the person behind them. Hailey Mathis is studying political science and history at the University of Oklahoma and balances her class schedule with an internship at the Oklahoma State Senate. She’s also a survivor of the May 3rd, 1999 tornado. One of the most destructive and powerful storms ever seen, Hailey, just 13 at the time, was home alone when the tornado destroyed her Bridge Creek home and changed her life forever.

Just as they were nearly ten years ago, members of the Oklahoma Senate were united in their pride in America, paying tribute Monday to thousands of victims of al-Qaida from 9-11 to the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.
When the session first convened on Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman led members in a moment of silence to acknowledge those victims, including Oklahoman David Rice, brother of Democratic Senate Leader, Andrew Rice.
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