Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate voted Monday to prohibit anyone without a disability or who is not trained to assist those with disabilities from fraudulently representing a pet as a service animal.

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Oklahoma Senate approved a resolution Monday affirming the historical ties between the state and the people of Ukraine and supporting their fight against the violent and illegal Russian invasion.  Senate Resolution 27 was introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, legislators announced the formation of a bipartisan, bicameral American Irish State Legislators Caucus in Oklahoma.  Caucus co-chairs will be Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen.

The Senate has given approval to Senate Bill 1691, which builds upon previously passed occupational licensing reforms and would be transformational for job-seeking Oklahomans with criminal records to seize their second chance.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday modifying the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, authored Senate Bill 1138 to improve the safety of public schools and better protect students from bullying and harassment.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, issued the following statement after the Oklahoma State Board of Equalization (BOE) met on Tuesday to certify revenues available for appropriation for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee released the following statements in response to today’s State Board of Equalization meeting:

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City -

“Federal COVID relief funds have jump-started Oklahoma’s economy and the revenue numbers shown today reflect that.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Health and Human Services Committee on Monday advanced four pro-life bills from Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat.

Senate Bill 1552

Senate Bill 1552 allows the Oklahoma State Department of Health to contract directly with private organizations who provide services related to the Choosing Childbirth Act.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Workforce and Economic Development Working Group for Pandemic Relief Funding issued a call Friday for proposals to address the child care crisis keeping many Oklahomans out of the workforce. Working group co-chairs, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep.

A Senate bill aimed at giving military and civilian families working at Oklahoma military facilities greater access to childcare has been approved by the full Senate.  Senate Bill 1286, by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, won overwhelming bipartisan approval on Thursday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s bill to add voter identification requirements to the state Constitution.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved legislation from President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would eliminate the state grocery sales tax, providing economic relief to Oklahoma families feeling the burden of inflation.

Senate Bill 1495 effectively eliminates the state grocery tax by lowering the rate from 4.5 percent to zero percent. The bill does not prohibit cities or counties from levying their own grocery tax.

OKLAHOMA CITY –. Nearly seven out of every 1,000 Oklahomans were the victim of domestic violence in 2020, a sobering statistic Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, wants to change through Senate Bill 1568.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday approved President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s school choice bill that empowers parents with more control over their child’s education.

The committee approved Senate Bill 1647, also known as the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, which would allow parents to use their child’s state education dollars to pursue a variety of schooling options to secure the best education possible for their children.

The full Senate gave approval to Senate Bill 1096 on Tuesday to add pastors, ministers, spiritual advisors and other religious leaders to the approved list of visitors for patients hospitalized during a declared health emergency.

Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Republicans again have selected Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, as their nominee to serve in the Senate’s top leadership post.

First elected president pro tempore in 2018, Treat was elected by acclamation as Republicans’ pro tempore designee for the 2023 and 2024 sessions. After completing that term, Treat will have served six years as president pro tempore, matching Brian Bingman as the longest-serving Republican pro tempore.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a bill to better protect victims of human trafficking and child abduction.  Senate Bill 1569, by Sen. Darrell Weaver, creates the “Address Confidentiality for Child Survivors and Their Families Act.”

State Senator Shane Jett is taking aim at national organizations seeking to implement social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in the state’s public school system by filing Senate Bill 1442, which would prohibit public school districts or charter schools from using federal, state or private funds to promote, purchase or utilize the concepts of SEL.