Press Releases

State Sen. Rob Standridge has won Senate approval for a measure allowing third-party commercial driver license (CDL) testing. Standridge said 40 states already have some form of third-party CDL testing. He said if Senate Bill 378 becomes law, Oklahoma will be able to address a costly testing backlog in an industry that is an important part of the state’s economy.
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The Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to send the legislation known as the Unity Bill to the full Senate for approval. Sen. Greg McCortney is the chair of the Rules Committee and Senate principal author of House Bill 2612, creating the safety and regulatory framework necessary for Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry after voters approved State Question 788 last June. The measure has already been approved by the House.

A measure to better equip educators to recognize and address the mental health needs of students has received Senate approval and will now be considered by the House. Senate Bill 446, by Sen. John Haste, would require the State Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop educator training programs on student mental health.
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Oklahoma Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd issued the following statement Tuesday after Gov. Kevin Stitt and Republican legislative leaders announced details of five bills giving the Governor the power to directly hire and fire agency heads.

“The Senate Democrats are concerned about the latest Republican proposal to increase the executive power of the Governor. We believe agency directors should be experienced professionals, not political appointees accountable only to the Governor.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, visited Will Rogers Elementary School in Vinita on Friday, March 1 in celebration of Read Across America Day. 

“Reading is crucial to student learning and is proven to be tied to future success for children, so this event is always a fun one to celebrate,” said Bergstrom.  “I enjoyed visiting with all the great students at Will Rogers Elementary and want to thank them for their invitation to join them on Friday to read “Great Day for Up” by Dr. Seuss while I was visiting their classroom.” 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom visited Wilson Elementary School in Miami on Friday, March 1 in celebration of Read Across America Day.  Wilson Elementary was one of several stops the Adair legislator made in recognition of the day designated to motivate children to read.