Governor Mary Fallin today joined other state leaders in announcing that Oklahoma will establish a Health Insurance Private Enterprise Network to prevent the establishment of a federal health care exchange in Oklahoma.

Sen. Dan Newberry today praised an agreement between Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders to establish an Oklahoma-based, free market health insurance network built on conservative principals.

The Oklahoma Health Insurance Private Enterprise Network will broaden access to affordable healthcare and prevent the establishment of a federal health insurance exchange in Oklahoma. The agreement stipulates that Oklahoma will not accept the $54 million Early Innovator Grant from the federal government.

Today the Oklahoma Legislature held a Fourth Joint Session of the 53rd Legislature in Honor of Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. Governor Mary Fallin along with the legislature officially recognized April 12th as Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division Day.

Today, State Senator Anthony Sykes, author of State Question 755, the “Save Our State” Amendment that banned the use of International Law and Sharia Law in Oklahoma, responded to questions regarding the measure.

According to President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, agents of college athletes need to be held more accountable for breaking rules when representing student athletes. House Bill 1586 will do just that, and Senate author Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, was glad to see it receive the support it did by a vote of 8 to 0. The legislation is a modification of the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.

The Senate Finance Committee has given approval to legislation designed to help Oklahoma better compete for major economic development projects and the jobs that go with them. House Bill 1953, by Sen. Mike Mazzei and Rep. Skye McNiel, has been a top priority this session for Gov. Mary Fallin.

Today the State Senate passed what is the biggest piece of their lawsuit reform agenda. By a vote of 30 to 14, HB 2128 by Senator Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, gained full Senate approval.

Senate leaders have worked for weeks on a series of lawsuit reform measures. House Bill 2128 will place a cap on non-economic damages of $350,000. The bill allows the cap on non-economic damages to be lifted under certain criteria.

Sykes said that “This legislation will move Oklahoma forward and it is a vital piece of the Senate Republican jobs agenda.”

The Senate has given approval to two measures aimed at improving public education in Oklahoma. House Bill 2139 would ensure the State Superintendent of Education has clearly defined statutory authority over the operation of the State Department of Education. House Bill 1380 would end the process known as trial de novo.
Senate Education Chair John Ford presented both bills on the floor Thursday. He said the legislation contains reform elements in Senate measures which have already been approved by the upper chamber.

State Senators John Ford, Clark Jolley and Dan Newberry said they were honored to author education reform initiatives championed by Gov. Mary Fallin and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush visited Oklahoma last August to outline reform policies that had made a dramatic difference in student achievement in his state. Wednesday he returned to Oklahoma to join Fallin, Sen. President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, House Speaker Kris Steele and Superintendent Janet Barresi at a State Capitol press conference promoting legislation aimed at improving public education.

In a bipartisan vote of 41 to 6, the full Senate has approved a second measure to help boost Oklahomas aerospace industry. Like Senate Bill 3, House Bill 1008 will restore tax credits for the creation of new aerospace engineering positions in Oklahoma. Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, is principal Senate author for both pieces of legislation.