Senate Works to Meet Bill Filing Deadline

Thursday, January 17 marks the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2008 session, the second of the 51st Legislature. By 5 p.m., 969 bills and 22 joint resolutions had been filed, with staff members expected to work into the evening filing the final measures. There were also 806 Senate bills and joint resolutions carried over from the 2007 session. In 2007, the Senate considered 1,130 new Senate bills as well as 32 Senate Joint Resolutions.

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 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23, and Tuesday, January 29 at 9:30 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 2008 legislative session will officially get underway on Monday, February 4. 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.

For further information, contact the Senate Communications Division at 405-521-5774.