Press Releases

On Sunday Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, sent a letter on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus to Governor Kevin Stitt urging him to take stronger statewide action on COVID-19.

The Honorable Kevin Stitt
Governor of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Capitol
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73107

Dear Governor Stitt:

On behalf of the Oklahoma Senate Democratic Caucus, I am writing to urge you to take further action to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Oklahoma.

State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, issued the following statement Saturday on the passing of former U.S. Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn.  Standridge wrote the introduction to Dr. Coburn’s book, “Smashing the DC Monopoly: Using Article V to Restore Freedom and Stop Runaway Government.”

“In 2011, I lost my father to prostate cancer, and now a few years later I lost a great friend and one of my greatest political heroes, Tom Coburn, to that same disease.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat commented on the passing of former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn: 

Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement on behalf of the Oklahoma Senate Democratic Caucus:

Oklahoma Senator Paul Rosino on Tuesday said he is recovering and doing well after testing positive for COVID-19. Rosino was not present at the Senate last week, nor was he among the senators or Senate personnel who underwent testing on Tuesday, March 17, after a Senate staffer tested positive for COVID-19.

The leader of the Oklahoma Senate released the following statement:

“The Oklahoma Senate will remain closed through Friday, March 27. During this time, we are working hard, be it remotely, to help deliver essential state services and to meet the needs of our constituents during this health crisis. Senators and our staff remain in constant contact with the governor and other executive branch officials in health care and education, our federal delegation and various leaders from key private sector industries as we work to address this serious health care crisis.”

The leader of the Oklahoma Senate released the following statement:

“The Oklahoma Senate today learned that someone in the Senate has tested positive for COVID-19. While the risk to a majority of Senate personnel and senators remains low, per the recommendation and under the guidance of health officials, we are taking appropriate measures.

The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation temporarily revising Open Meeting laws so that some members of a public body could participate in public meetings via videoconference and teleconference.

State Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement on Monday on her decision to work remotely to better protect a family member following reports of further spread of COVID-19 in Oklahoma.

“Senate is in session today, but I will not be present. I wanted to take a moment to explain why my absence is leading by example.

House and Senate leaders on Monday announced restricted access to the Capitol building in response to the COVID-19 challenge in Oklahoma.

Beginning Tuesday, in order to reduce the potential for community spread of COVID-19, access to the Capitol will be restricted to elected state officials, essential Capitol staff, credentialed press and state officials invited to essential meetings. These restrictions are similar to protocols put in place recently at the U.S. Capitol and other capitol buildings nationwide.

OKLAHOMA CITY -The chairs of the Legislative Veterans Caucus and the Senate and House Committees on Veterans and Military Affairs are expressing their condolences after the passing of Staff Sgt. Marshal D. Roberts, of Owasso. The 28-year-old Oklahoma Air National Guardsman was killed in a rocket attack in Iraq on Wednesday, March 11.  

According to the Oklahoma Military Department, Roberts is the first Oklahoma Air National Guardsman to be killed in action and the 20th Oklahoma National Guardsman who has died while deployed overseas since Sept. 11, 2001.

A measure designating the oldest highway to pass through Oklahoma as the Historic Jefferson Highway has been approved by the Senate and now moves to the House for consideration.

Authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, Senate Bill 1884 would designate the route that largely follows State Highway 69 in Oklahoma from the Kansas to Texas borders as the “Historic Jefferson Highway Route.”

The Senate strengthened protections for the unborn Thursday with the passage of the Senate Bill 1859.  Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, authored the bill to increase accountability of doctors administering abortions in Oklahoma. 

The bill would prohibit doctors from performing abortions beginning at six weeks if a fetal or embryonic heartbeat or brainwaves are present.  Currently, at eight weeks, doctors must advise a mother if a heartbeat is audible and let her decide whether to listen to it before moving forward with the procedure.

A bill to help Oklahomans strapped by the ever-increasing costs of prescription drugs has cleared the full Senate.  State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, is principal author of Senate Bill 940, creating the Prescription Drug Safety and Cost Reduction Pilot Program Act.  The bill was approved on Thursday.

The Senate has voted to strengthen penalties against those who sell intimate images or videos without the subject’s knowledge or consent. Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, said Senate Bill 1462 will protect victims from continual embarrassment and other negative impacts from the public sharing of such private pictures and videos.

The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday unanimously advanced legislation directing the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to coordinate resources and functions more closely.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 1775.

The Oklahoma Senate advanced legislation Wednesday aimed at updating the state’s civil service code, which has not seen significant updates since 1982.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the author of both Senate Bill 1780, which places a sunset date of July 1, 2021, on the Merit Protection Commission, and of Senate Bill 1879, which seeks to modernize the human resources policies that guide the management of the state’s workforce.

Under current law, Oklahomans with state occupational licenses or certifications who are delinquent on their income taxes face possible nonrenewal. To ensure these individuals can afford to pay their back taxes Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, authored Senate Bill 1816, which passed out of the Senate Wednesday.

The Senate has approved legislation to help keep emergency certified teachers in the classroom and strengthen bullying prevention in Oklahoma schools.  Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, is the author of the two bills.  

SB 1115 allows the State Board of Education to renew the emergency or provisional certificate of anyone who has been employed by a school district for at least two years.  To be considered, the individual must have –
 

In an effort to continue growing the state’s economy and address the teacher shortage, the Senate approved two reciprocal licensing reforms Wednesday.  Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the author of the measures to recognize the out-of-state occupational licenses and teaching certificates of qualified individuals moving to Oklahoma.