Press Releases

An exemption allowing in-home hospice providers the ability to opt out of electronic prescribing has been passed by the full Senate.

In an effort to protect Oklahoma’s unborn, Sen. Paul Scott has authored Senate Bill 1859, which passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Monday afternoon.  The bill would require doctors to recognize life just as they do death through heartbeats and brainwaves or the lack of such activity.

The Senate Health and Human Services approved Senate Bill 1296 to add marijuana to the list of products that cannot be smoked or vaped in public places.  Sen. Lonnie Paxton authored the bill to address the growing number of citizens utilizing medicinal marijuana around stores, restaurants and other public places.

The Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee voted Monday in favor of legislation increasing the age to buy or use tobacco products from 18 to 21.  Senator Greg McCortney, chair of the committee, is the author of Senate Bill 1423. 

A bill requiring Oklahoma school districts to adopt suicide awareness and training programs for grades seven through 12 has been passed by the Senate.

Under current state law, honorably discharged veterans get free entry to all state parks and museums.  However, the law is written assuming state parks charge per person rather than per vehicle, which parks are starting to do.  To ensure these veterans continue getting free entry, Sen. read more.

The Senate passed legislation Wednesday to provide more local control for school districts to decide how to protect their students.  Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is author of House Bill 2336.  The measure would allow a local board of education to voluntarily adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel who hold a valid reserve peace officer certification or possess a valid handgun license. read more.

The full Senate has voted in favor of a measure that would increase Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for both first and second degree manslaughter.  Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, is principal author of Senate Bill 414.  The Senate gave unanimous approval to the bill on Wednesday, the first bill to pass off the floor during the 2020 legislative session.

Legislation formalizing an Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC) program that provides a positive economic and social impact on cities and communities across the state has been approved by the Senate.

After the devastating death of a Lexington, Okla., middle school athlete injured during a football game last fall, Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, wants school districts across the state to provide emergency medical services at athletic events.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday to help get more teachers into Oklahoma classrooms.  Sen. read more.

On the heels of Oklahoma’s electronic prescription law that went into effect on Jan. 1, Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, presented Senate Bill 1278 for committee consideration, which would exempt outpatient hospice care facilities from the e-prescription requirement.

Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, passed three measures out of the Public Safety Committee Monday that aim to tighten sentences for domestic violence offenders, increase accountability for their actions and further protect their victims.

The Senate Public Safety Committee has passed Senate Bill 1290, also known as the Medical Care Provider Protection Act, which takes steps to address workplace violence in the health care arena.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed House Bill 1182 Thursday, legislation Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, said clearly does not provide equal protection for unborn children and will ensure that abortion continue in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma icon Clara Luper was a civic leader, schoolteacher and activist best known for orchestrating the 1958 Oklahoma City sit-in protests at downtown drugstore lunch counters, which helped to overturn their racial segregation policies. The Clara Luper Civil Rights Center is set to be built in Oklahoma City, and state Sen. read more.

State Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Broken Arrow, says Oklahomans should decide if the legislature can save additional funds each year by increasing the constitutional savings cap on the Rainy Day Fund, which is the state’s emergency savings account.

Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, has filed Senate Bill 1267, which would encourage the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to use appropriated money to support minority entrepreneurship within the state.

Oklahoma Senate leaders on Tuesday commented on the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling regarding redistricting.