Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s sexual assault and rape kit backlog is continuing to pile up, and Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study the progress of analyzing the backlog and provide an update on the current sexual assault cases pending testing.

In a letter sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday, State Sen. Warren Hamilton requested the governor convene a special session for the Legislature to prevent private businesses from requiring employees to be vaccinated.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The joint legislative committee formed to support the state planning of pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) met today for its first organizational meeting.

Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study youth suicide during the interim as suicide rates across the state continue to skyrocket. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, approved the three study requests earlier this month.

OKLAHOMA CITY – More than 70 interim studies have been approved by Senate leadership, and among them are two by Sen.

Of the 71 interim study requests approved by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat last week, five were requested by state Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City. The series of studies would give senators the opportunity to delve into topics such as racial equality, health disparities in the African American community, minority-owned businesses and funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU).

UPDATE: As of Thursday afternoon, 17 Republican senators had joined Sen. Bullard in urging the State Board of Education and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister to fully implement provisions of House Bill 1775 at their special school board meeting Monday.

Saying too many questions remain unanswered, Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, and Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, are calling on Gov. Kevin Stitt to delay closing the William S. Key Correctional Center until it can be determined exactly how much shuttering the facility will cost.  The lawmakers said they still had questions after a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the closure.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Friday announced the approval of all requests for interim studies submitted by Oklahoma Senate members. Senators submitted 72 interim study requests; one request was withdrawn.

Pro Tem Treat, R-Oklahoma City, assigned interim study requests to Senate committees with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the request. Treat said committee chairs will determine when and if the interim studies assigned to their committee will be held.