Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson issued the following statement on Monday after Attorney General Mike Hunter responded to Thompson’s request for a legal opinion as to whether Gov. Kevin Stitt could deposit state revenues from tribal gaming exclusivity fees in escrow while awaiting the outcome of federal litigation over gaming compacts between the state and tribes.

The Senate has voted in favor of legislation requiring standardized investigations following the sudden, unexplained death of infants in Oklahoma.  Sen. Stephanie Bice is principal author of Senate Bill 1893, which was approved unanimously on Wednesday. 

A bill to repeal the requirement for threaders to obtain a cosmetology license passed unanimously in the Senate this week.  Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said Senate Bill 1540 will correct an oversight that is hurting small business owners while providing no training for the popular hair removal practice. 

Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson has won full Senate approval for legislation to modernize state agency spending and create government efficiencies. Senate Bill 1422, by Thompson, R-Okemah, was approved on Tuesday.

Thompson said it’s been more than two decades since there has been a comprehensive and uniform review of the Central Purchasing Act, which sets limits on agency spending.  SB 1422 will update agency spending limits to reflect the increased prices of goods and services and address additional modernizations.

The Senate has approved Senate Bill 1388, which would sweeten the pot for urban gardeners to raise honeybees by giving tax exempt status to bee products sold at farmers markets across the state.   

Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, said she authored the bill after a food desert in west Tulsa led her to look at alternative ways her constituents could access fresh produce.

The full Senate has approved legislation raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.  Sen. Greg McCortney is the author of Senate Bill 1423, aligning state law with the federal Tobacco-Free Youth Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in December, which prohibits the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.

McCortney, R-Ada, said it was important to make sure Oklahoma’s statutes mirror the new federal law.

State Sen. James Leewright has won unanimous approval in the Senate for Senate Bill 1739, the “Barbara E. Hoover Act,” protecting the use of video monitoring in assisted living centers.  The legislation, which was approved Tuesday, ensures all continuum of care facility residents have the same rights as nursing home residents.

More than 1,500 students were stranded for several hours at schools across Mississippi last August after a federal immigration sweep of local businesses led to the arrest of nearly 700 undocumented citizens. To avoid such a possible traumatic incident for Oklahoma students, Oklahoma City Public Schools requested Senate Bill 1711 to create the Oklahoma Standby Guardianship Act.  The bill by Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma, was approved Tuesday by the Senate. 

The Senate has passed legislation that would provide mental health patients telemedicine healthcare access when a law enforcement officer is dispatched for assistance. Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, authored Senate Bill 1208, which he says is necessary to provide immediate patient care and reduce costly mental health transports.

Under the measure, if an officer is called to assist a medically stable individual suffering from mental health ailment, the patient could be assessed by a licensed mental health professional via telemedicine if the capability is available.

Legislation to help more Oklahoma students be career ready after graduation    unanimously passed off the Senate Floor Tuesday.  Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is the author of Senate Bill 1532, which will allow sophomores age 16 and older to participate in the Apprenticeships, Internships and Mentorships Act of 2016.