Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Thursday to allow voters more time to cast early ballots. Senate Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, said House Bill 2663 is needed to improve voter participation by giving Oklahomans an additional day to vote by in-person absentee ballot.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, released the following statement Thursday after the Senate voted Wednesday in favor of House Bill 1775.  Standridge, R-Norman, is a coauthor of the legislation, by Sen.  David Bullard, R-Durant, and Rep.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was signed Wednesday to better protect the rights of grieving families after the loss of a pregnancy. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, are the authors of Senate Bill 647. Lily’s Law extends to all families, regardless of when a stillbirth or fetal death occurs, the right to request their child’s remains for private burial.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill clarifying the definition of rape to include acts within or without the bonds of matrimony is on its way to the governor’s desk. House Bill 2666, by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has approved legislation to ensure disclosure of foreign investments in medical marijuana businesses.  House Bill 2272, by Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, and Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, was requested by Attorney General Mike Hunter.  The measure was approved in the Senate on Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill aimed at promoting civility during local government meetings has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 403, by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, and Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, was approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday.

SB 403 expands existing law which makes it illegal for anyone to willfully disturb, interfere or disrupt state business to include local government meetings held by school boards, county and municipal governments.

OKLAHOMA CITY – More of Oklahoma’s students will soon be able to take advantage of Oklahoma’s Promise, the state’s free tuition program, following the signing of Senate Bill 132 Tuesday. The bill’s author, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said it will provide students more time to decide whether they want to go to college or a career tech by allowing public and private school students to apply up through the 11^th grade or up to the age of 17 for home-schooled students.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave final approval to legislation requiring Oklahoma law enforcement to comply with federal immigration officials. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, and Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, authored House Bill 2774 to assist the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with locating illegal immigrants who are detained.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill increasing the mobility of professional and occupational licensing across state lines passed unanimously out of the Senate on Wednesday. House Bill 2873, a win for Oklahoma workers, consumers and the economy, embodies fairness to those moving to Oklahoma with similar education, training and skills as well as to in-state Oklahoma professionals.

OKLAHOMA CITY –  The full Senate unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the impact of diabetes in the state and supporting increased health outcomes for those suffering with the disease.

Authored by Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, co-chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Diabetes Caucus, the resolution states there are more than 356,000 Oklahomans living with diabetes and declares their care as preventative care.

OKLAHOMA CITY –Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, gave an update on Wednesday about key areas of the budget as negotiations between the Senate and House continue for Fiscal Year 2022.  Thompson touched on some of the items under discussion and his priorities for the budget.

EDUCATION FUNDING

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given its approval to a bill aimed at ensuring long-term care facilities have a visitation plan in place in the event of future emergencies.  Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, chair of Health and Human Services, is the Senate principal author of House Bill 2566, by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid.  The measure was approved on Wednesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate leaders on Wednesday made public the new district maps and the chair of the redistricting committee says the open and transparent process this time produced better maps.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Each year, thousands of military families are transferred to Oklahoma’s four military bases. Navy veteran and Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee chair Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, authored a pair of bills this session to help these families speed up the process of getting their children back in the classroom. Senate Bills 68 and 69 were signed into law Tuesday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation creating the State Broadband Deployment Grant Program is one step closer to becoming law. On Wednesday, the full Senate voted in favor of House Bill 1124, by Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, and Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds.

OKLAHOMA CITY –The pay of school support staff will be protected during future epidemics and state emergencies thanks to legislation signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 807, by Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, will ensure support staff have the same pay protections during such events as teachers and administrators.

Bernardo’s Law – a measure designating Oklahoma’s wrecker safety statute in honor of Bernardo Martinez, who lost his life while on the job, was approved by the Senate on Wednesday. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep.

Intrastate crowdfunding is now legal in Oklahoma after Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 568 on Monday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has approved legislation to better protect bicyclists in Oklahoma.  Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, and Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, are the principal authors of House Bill 1770, which would allow people on bicycles to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure passed through the Senate Tuesday to better protect the religious freedoms of Oklahomans. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, carried the bill in the Senate protecting churches.