Press Releases

Gov. Mary Fallin has signed Senate Bill 1497 into law. The bill was authored by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Elise Hall, R-Oklahoma City. The legislation ensures the right of a citizen to file a lawsuit in order to enforce the Open Meetings Act.
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President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement after the Senate voted on Thursday 39-0 to override the governor’s veto of HB 2461. The legislation requires a sheriff or chief of police to execute any request for documents relating to the purchase of firearms defined by the National Firearms Act within 15 days if the purchaser is not prohibited from possessing a firearm. With the Senate joining the House in the override, HB 2461 will now become law.

Sen. Cliff Branan, Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, released the following statement today regarding a recent advertising campaign organized by a group called Oklahomans for a Prosperous Future.

Branan’s comments reference an ad being broadcast throughout Oklahoma, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20kT3-yzxC8&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop. The ad attacks tax policy that has helped create a booming horizontal drilling industry in Oklahoma, and advocates for a large tax increase on oil production.

A measure to help get more public safety officers on the streets was signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 1372, by Sen. Josh Brecheen and Rep. Jon Echols, will lower the age limit for commissioned officers within the Department of Public Safety from 23 to 21 years of age and provide educational credits to those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
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State Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, issued the following statement today regarding the governor’s signing of Senate Bills 1431 and 1433, which strengthen penalties for human trafficking.

A bill to make sure caregivers are kept informed about when a patient is being discharged and given follow-up care instructions is now on its way to the governor’s desk for her signature. House amendments to Senate Bill 1536, by Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, were approved by the full Senate on Monday.

SB 1536 allows hospital patients to designate a lay caregiver upon formal admission. The hospital must also notify the designated caregiver of the patient’s discharge and consult with the caregiver about aftercare.
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In order to avoid a budget shortfall in the Department of Corrections (DOC), the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget has approved a $13 million supplemental appropriation. Senate Bill 2126 was approved by the committee Monday afternoon.

Senate Appropriations Chair, Clark Jolley said DOC had actually needed $27 million, but had worked to identify ways of reprioritizing funds within the agency. Jolley praised DOC director Robert Patton for his fiscally conservative approach and leadership.
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There are currently more than 11,000 Oklahoma children in foster care. Those children, the families who are currently providing homes for them and the need for even more families to step forward will be the focus on Tuesday, May 6, during “Foster Care Day” at the state Capitol, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees are urged to wear blue or a blue ribbon to help draw attention to foster care.
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Under legislation signed by the governor this week, Oklahoma taxpayers will be able to better understand where their tax dollars are being spent.

Senate Bill 1980, authored by Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage, will require the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to include a taxpayer receipt feature on the existing Open Books website. The function will allow a taxpayer to enter data on the amount of taxes they have paid, and see how those funds were allocated under statutory apportionment provisions.
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Sen. Ralph Shortey today said the House of Representatives sent a message that they are serious about protecting the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans by overriding the governor’s veto of House Bill 2461.
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