Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, on Tuesday hosted an interim study to explore ways to eliminate parking fees at Oklahoma’s state parks.

Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Director Sterling Zearley said two dozen of Oklahoma’s state parks charge fees for day-use visitors, with exceptions for veterans and seniors aged 62 or older.

More than 170,000 parking passes have been sold so far this year. The fees generate approximately $2.6 million annually for park maintenance and upgrades, Zearley said.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Right now, more than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including about 10 percent of Oklahomans over the age of 65. It’s one of the most common forms of dementia, leading to memory loss and the inability of patients to care for themselves, and ultimately is fatal.

OKLAHOMA CITY- Senator Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, was recently presented the Liberty Bell Award  by the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Association for his legislative efforts to protect Oklahoma’s children.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, has filed legislation to continue strengthening school safety measures across Oklahoma by extending the School Security Revolving Fund for an additional three years.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt led an interim study highlighting strategic ways the state can partner with municipalities to improve available housing so that every Oklahoman can afford a home in the community where they want to live and work.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, and Senator Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, convened an interim study Wednesday before the Senate Local and County Government Committee to examine options for stabilizing municipal funding across Oklahoma.

The bipartisan study, approved by Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, brought together city officials, financial experts, and local government advocates to discuss long-term solutions for sustaining critical local services and infrastructure.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt led an interim study at the state Capitol looking at the increasing cost of homeowners insurance in Oklahoma. Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said she requested the study because of the many calls and emails from constituents struggling with the high cost of insurance – especially folks on fixed-incomes. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, will join the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) on Thursday, October 9 at 10:30 a.m.

FAFSA Graduation Requirement Pushes Oklahoma Higher in National Rankings

OKLAHOMA CITY – State lawmakers who championed Oklahoma’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) graduation requirement are celebrating new data that reveals a sharp increase in student completion of forms that help families unlock federal financial aid.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, and Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, on Tuesday hosted a joint interim study to explore whether the use of technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom helps or hinders student learning.

The study, held before the Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee, which Seifried chairs, comes after the two legislators passed a statewide “bell to bell” cellphone prohibition in schools for the 2025-2026 academic year.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, was recently presented with the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association’s Oklahoma Legislative Career Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding vision, dedication, leadership, and commitment to supporting Oklahoma’s sheriffs.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, will lead an interim study in the Senate’s Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee exploring the feasibility of statutory paid family leave in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Highlighting Oklahoma’s identity as an “all of the above” energy state, Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, led an interim study before the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee to evaluate the state’s energy tax policies and how they impact economic growth and job creation.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Mark Mann issued a statement after Thursday’s announcement about the future of education in Oklahoma following the departure of former Superintendent Ryan Walters.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today applauded Governor Kevin Stitt’s appointment of Lindel Fields as Oklahoma’s next State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, on Wednesday hosted an interim study in the Senate Public Safety Committee to explore what the state can do to prevent domestic violence and protect victims of abuse.

Coleman focused his study on how GPS technology could be used to prevent domestic violence offenders from going near their victims. While courts in Oklahoma can already order GPS tracking in protective order cases, it’s rarely used, and there’s no consistent framework to use GPS devices in this manner. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, on Wednesday hosted an interim study to explore ways to modernize the state’s criminal justice system by finding efficiencies and easing the financial burden on taxpayers.

Rader’s study brought together stakeholders from across the criminal justice and corrections systems to present before the Senate Public Safety Committee.

TULSA, OK – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, District 22, was honored yesterday with the Yolanda Charney Award for Public Leadership at a luncheon hosted by the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Modernizing Oklahoma’s child tax credit (CTC) would improve outcomes for children while helping parents, grandparents, and foster parents better afford basic necessities. Sen. Nikki Nice said those were among the findings presented during her interim study in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on the benefits of updating the credit.