Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, announced the first of a number of historical markers designating the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail will be unveiled on Highway 62 in Boley this Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. Matthews was principal author of legislation, along with Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, Rep.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, called for Congressional action to allow states to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time. Stephens served as the author of a trigger bill in the 2024 legislative session to adopt permanent DST in Oklahoma. The provisions of Senate Bill 1200 will take effect immediately following the passage of federal legislation allowing states to discontinue bi-annual time changes.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Emergency Drought Committee approved a new program to deliver critical drought relief for Oklahoma agricultural producers. The application period opens on Nov. 12 and will remain open through Jan. 31, 2025.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, commented on the report on public school money controlled by the State Department of Education by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency today.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sens. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, hosted a robust, two-day interim study this week to examine the detrimental effects of cell phone use among K-12 students in schools.

OKLAHOMA CITY- On Wednesday, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, alongside Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, chaired an interim study with the Administrative Rules Committee to examine the current process agencies use to submit rules and how those rules are reviewed by the committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, held an interim study in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on Monday to evaluate the management of invasive woody species on state-owned properties.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, held an interim study in the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday to evaluate how to protect children from the harmful effects of social media use and analyze potential regulatory solutions.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, presented an interim study to the Senate General Government Committee on Thursday looking at poverty in Oklahoma, the programs that meet critical needs, and long-term paths for Oklahomans to escape poverty.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, hopes to raise awareness about a certification program to assist with early detection and specialized educational approaches for students with dyslexia, a learning disorder that can hinder a child’s ability to read well.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, recently held a meeting with multiple state agencies and Southeastern Oklahoma residents to discuss critical water resource issues in Southeastern Oklahoma. The meeting focused on concerns surrounding the environmental and public health impacts of water permits being issued for commercial use in the region, specifically for a poultry farm and a marijuana grow operation.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, are continuing their efforts to address Oklahoma’s housing shortage.

Hall also requests confirmation of inhalers distributed by OSDE

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Appropriations Chairman Chuck Hall, R-Perry, on Thursday urged the State Department of Education (SDE) to quickly distribute state funds appropriated in 2023 to provide Oklahoma schools emergency asthma inhalers.

OKLAHOMA CITY – In support of bolstering educational excellence and understanding the formation of the United States, the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus (OKFC), led by Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, and Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Ellyn Hefner, D-Oklahoma City, collaborated on an interim study held by the House Public Health Committee examining the challenges faced by Oklahomans who have a diagnosis of intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and a mental health diagnosis, and how they can better access care.