Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Community College student, Christopher Shropshire, was recognized by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, for being a recipient of the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Tuition Waiver Award on Tuesday at the state Capitol. Recipients receive a $1,000 tuition waiver and are selected by the presidents of Oklahoma community colleges for their outstanding academic achievement, leadership and their record in the classroom. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Eastern Oklahoma State College student, Tanner Jarrett, was recognized by Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Lawton, for being a member of the All-Oklahoma Academic Team on Tuesday at the state Capitol. All-Oklahoma Academic Team members have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 and are nominated by their college president to the All-USA Academic Team.

President Pro Tempore Greg Treat appointed seven senators on Monday to serve on a pension working group to study long-term pension reform as well as make recommendations to his office on pending pension reform legislation.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – State Senator Micheal Bergstrom joined Bluejacket High School Junior Justin Herlan at the 104th Annual Oklahoma Youth Expo on Tuesday, March 19 at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

Herlan, who has earned many honors for his care and presentation of various cattle breeds including Maine, Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn and Chianina, is recognized as a leader around the state in the area of agriculture and livestock, winning numerous Top 10 awards for excellence in the field of agriculture and livestock. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Wednesday announced the members of a bipartisan working group to study the Senate’s confirmation process for executive nominations.
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Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Mark Lepak will attend a White House event on Thursday to hear President Trump speak about protecting First Amendment rights on college campuses. He is expected to sign an executive order tying the receipt of federal research funding to universities’ actions to ensure freedom of expression on campus. The two legislators received the invitation because of their work on a bill to protect freedom of expression on Oklahoma campuses.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Larry Boggs was presented with the 2018 Senator of the Year Award by the Oklahoma Veterans Council on Wednesday, March 27th in the House Chamber during a Joint Legislative Session.

Boggs, R-Wilburton, was recognized for his ongoing support of veterans, their families and their unique needs.  During his tenure in the Legislature, he has worked on several bills focused on helping veterans and supporting veteran issues.

OKLAHOMA CITY - State Senator Adam Pugh was presented with a special Legislative Champion Award tie by the Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Association during the organization’s Capitol Advocacy Day on Monday.  Pugh, R-Edmond, authored several bills, including Senate Bill 435, on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association this session.  SB 435 unanimously passed on the Senate floor earlier this week and is now headed to the House for consideration.  The measure directs the Department of Human Services to require all Adult Protective Services (APS) specialists to receive training related to recognizing, trea read more.

The full Senate has given approval to a bill aimed at ensuring more state contracts are awarded to Oklahoma businesses. Sen. Rob Standridge is the principal author of Senate Bill 376, the Oklahoma First Act.

Standridge said the exact mechanisms are still being honed as the bill moves through the legislative process, but noted the concept is a simple one.
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The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday in a bipartisan vote approved a bill from President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would put a legislative referendum on the 2020 ballot to let voters decide whether to restrict the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ability to construe a right to an abortion in the state constitution.
Senate Bill 195 passed on a 40-8 vote and now heads to the House for consideration.
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The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday approved legislation to encourage more classroom time for students.

Senate Bill 441 by Senator Marty Quinn is one of four agenda items of Senate Republicans. The bill passed on a 31-17 vote and now goes to the House for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously approved legislation Thursday to modify the state’s “habitual offender” statute in an effort to decrease Oklahoma’s overcrowded prison system. Senate Bill 287, by Sen. Bill Coleman, modifies convictions for second and subsequent nonviolent, nonsexual felony offenses. The bill requires these offenders to serve no more than the maximum sentence plus one-fourth of the sentence that could have been imposed for a first conviction of the current offense.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Two measures to provide protections against wage discrimination passed out of the Senate Tuesday.  Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd is the author of the bills, which will now move to the House.

The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday gave approval to three landmark government accountability bills that are a part of a larger agreement to give the governor the authority to hire and fire the heads of five of the largest state agencies.
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The full Senate has given approval to Senate Bill 162 aimed at improving safety in the medical marijuana available to Oklahoma patients as well as clarifying the qualifications for doctors who may provide the recommendation letters required for patients. The bill is authored by Sen. Rob Standridge.
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The full Senate has given approval to a pair of bills dealing with a study of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer—the sole water source for much of south-central Oklahoma. State Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, is the author of the measures.

An earlier five-year study was undertaken in the mid-2000’s. It was the first comprehensive study of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer and helped determine the maximum annual yield and establish the amount that private owners were entitled to access.

The Senate approved legislation Tuesday to provide the public and legislature with a clearer picture of what federal funds Oklahoma receives. Senate Bill 271, by Sen. Nathan Dahm, will require state agencies that receive federal funds to annually publish a list on their website of the funds, what programs they are used for and the qualifications to receive and keep those funds.
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OKLAHOMA CITY –   State Senator Micheal Bergstrom was appointed this week to serve on the Joint Legislative Task Force on The Grand River Dam Authority by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. The Republican legislator from Adair replaces former state Senator Eddie Fields.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure to prohibit the use of state funds for recruitment bonuses for teachers failed narrowly in the Senate 22-20 Tuesday.  Retired educator Sen. Ron Sharp said he authored Senate Bill 57 to stop the unfair practice of virtual charter schools rewarding teachers financially with state appropriated dollars for successfully recruiting other teachers and students to their schools in the middle of the school year.

A measure to prohibit the use of state funds for recruitment bonuses for teachers failed narrowly in the Senate 22-20 Tuesday. Retired educator Sen. Ron Sharp said he authored Senate Bill 57 to stop the unfair practice of virtual charter schools rewarding teachers financially with state appropriated dollars for successfully recruiting other teachers and students to their schools in the middle of the school year.
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