Senate Works to Meet Bill Filing Deadline

Thursday, January 15 marks the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2009 session, the first of the 52nd Legislature. By 5 p.m., 1,054 bills and 35 joint resolutions had been filed, with staff members expected to work into the evening filing the final measures. In 2008, the Senate considered 1,069 new bills as well as 31 new joint resolutions. In 2007, a total of 1,130 bills and 32 joint resolutions were filed by members of the Senate.

Members of the public can read and download current legislation by going to the official State Senate website at www.oksenate.gov and following the link for legislation at the top of the homepage.

In addition, free computer training will be offered to anyone interested in learning how to track legislation online. Those training sessions will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, and Wednesday, January 28 at 9:00 a.m., in room 419-C on the fourth floor of the State Capitol. The training session can also be viewed on the Senate’s official website at www.oksenate.gov.

The 2009 legislative session will officially get underway on Monday, February 2. The Senate offers streaming audio and video from the Senate Chamber, as well as from committee rooms 419-C and 511-A. Wireless Internet access is available to all Capitol visitors throughout the Senate gallery, rotunda, committee rooms, offices and press rooms.