Legislation to clarify qualifications for a $5,000 tax credit originally approved to help attract and keep aerospace engineers in Oklahoma has been approved by the full Senate and is on its way to the House for further consideration. 

Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, is the author of Senate Bill 1461, which he filed after an interpretation by the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) resulted in notifications being sent to aerospace engineers saying they didn’t qualify for the credit and must repay the state the $5,000 credit plus penalties and interest.

An Oklahoman dies every five days on average as a result of domestic violence according to the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

Sen. Michael Brooks said he authored Senate Bill 1804 at the request of a district judge for clarification for those arrested for domestic violence and to better protect domestic abuse victims.

The Senate has passed a measure creating the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot Program to further state investment in innovative technologies. 

Authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, Senate Bill 1688 would identify local communities for pilot programs for the adoption of advanced mobility technologies, and provide for two grants up to $500,000 each year. The program would become an entity of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The Senate has approved legislation that would exclude pheromone lures, traps and monitoring system components and equipment from requiring a “registration for use” license under Oklahoma’s Combined Pesticide Law. 

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, authored Senate Bill 1272 and said the measure is necessary to bring state law in line with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

Two measures were approved Tuesday by the full Senate to protect the rights of nursing mothers who are state employees.  Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, is the author of the two bills.   

Senate Bill 1877 will require all buildings owned or leased by the state where state employees work to have a place other than a bathroom for breastfeeding or to express breast milk.

The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday unanimously advanced legislation directing the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to coordinate resources and functions more closely.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 1775.

The Oklahoma Senate advanced legislation Wednesday aimed at updating the state’s civil service code, which has not seen significant updates since 1982.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the author of both Senate Bill 1780, which places a sunset date of July 1, 2021, on the Merit Protection Commission, and of Senate Bill 1879, which seeks to modernize the human resources policies that guide the management of the state’s workforce.

Under current law, Oklahomans with state occupational licenses or certifications who are delinquent on their income taxes face possible nonrenewal. To ensure these individuals can afford to pay their back taxes Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, authored Senate Bill 1816, which passed out of the Senate Wednesday.

The Senate has approved legislation to help keep emergency certified teachers in the classroom and strengthen bullying prevention in Oklahoma schools.  Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, is the author of the two bills.  

SB 1115 allows the State Board of Education to renew the emergency or provisional certificate of anyone who has been employed by a school district for at least two years.  To be considered, the individual must have –
 

In an effort to continue growing the state’s economy and address the teacher shortage, the Senate approved two reciprocal licensing reforms Wednesday.  Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the author of the measures to recognize the out-of-state occupational licenses and teaching certificates of qualified individuals moving to Oklahoma.