Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt issued the following statement on Tuesday after Republicans failed to vote on Senate Joint Resolution 20 or Senate Joint Resolution 19, disapproving Superintendent Ryan Walters’ controversial social studies standards. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to ensure a timely response to open records requests is headed for a vote by the full Senate. Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt is Senate principal author of House Bill 2095, which received unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of the Senate and House Democratic Caucuses are stepping up their call for votes on joint resolutions to reject Superintendent Ryan Walters’ social studies standards. If the Legislature fails to act in the coming days, those standards will take effect in the 2025-26 school year.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, advanced House Bill 1592 to create a new crime of organized retail crime (ORC), which is defined by multiple elements that indicate the presence of criminal organizations. This business-driven legislation responds to the increasing threat posed by organized theft rings to Oklahoma’s retailers and economy.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved legislation from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, aimed at prohibiting obscene adult performances on public property or in any location where minors could be present.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, has won unanimous approval from the Senate Education Committee for House Bill 1601, a bipartisan measure to allow teachers to use up to six weeks of accrued sick leave to extend their six-week maternity leave.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, on Monday passed legislation through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that would make it a felony to traffic abortion pills.

House Bill 1168 would create a felony trafficking offense for someone to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver abortion-inducing drugs if that person knows or has reason to believe that the drug will be used by someone to have an illegal abortion as defined in law.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Carri Hicks, co-chair of the Legislative Diabetes Caucus, is inviting Oklahomans living with diabetes, their families, and all who are concerned about this disease to come to the state Capitol on Tuesday, April 29 for Diabetes Advocacy Day.

OKLAHOMA CITY – With a May 1 deadline for rejecting Superintendent Ryan Walters’ social studies standards quickly approaching, members of the Senate Democratic Caucus issued the following statements on Monday.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senator Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, today released the following statement after the passing of Pope Francis. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, on Thursday successfully advanced legislation to prevent utility customers from being burdened with additional fees and taxes as a result of Winter Storm Uri.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee this week easily passed legislation to establish an income tax credit for individuals who donate to pregnancy resource centers.

On Monday, the committee advanced House Bill 1201 by Rep. Cody Maynard and Sen. David Bullard, both Republicans from Durant.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senator George Burns, R-Pollard, today applauded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) decision to halt progress on a controversial pumped storage hydroelectric project proposed on the Kiamichi River in Pushmataha County.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, advanced legislation to prevent people from misrepresenting their pets as service animals.

The Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday passed House Bill 1178, which would make it a misdemeanor for someone to knowingly misrepresent an animal in their possession as a service animal to gain the same privileges granted to individuals with disabilities.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Retirement and Government Resources Committee on Tuesday passed legislation that would allow Oklahoma to establish a transactional gold and silver depository.

Sen. David Bullard advanced House Bill 1197, which would allow the state treasurer to establish a local, transactional depository whereby Oklahomans could spend their gold and silver like money through a debit card system.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, received unanimous approval from the Senate Education Committee for House Bill 1484 Tuesday, legislation aimed at expanding fentanyl awareness and prevention education in Oklahoma schools.

OKLAHOMA CITY – In a solemn joint session of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate on Monday, state lawmakers gathered to mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, honoring the 168 lives lost and recognizing the strength and resilience that emerged in the wake of the tragedy.