Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, to require the state to utilize GPS technology to protect victims of domestic violence in egregious abuse cases.

Senate Bill 80 reverses legislative authorization for 21 of 35 turnpike projects codified in state law

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Senate on Monday overwhelmingly passed legislation from Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, that would undo legislative authorization for some turnpike projects that were previously approved by the Oklahoma Legislature but never built.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today secured full Senate approval of Senate Bill 1806, which extends support services for young adults transitioning out of the foster care system.

The measure passed off the Senate floor unanimously.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt issued the following statement after Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Alan Armstrong, chairman of the Williams Companies, to serve as a U.S. senator for Oklahoma on an interim basis. Under state law, he cannot run for the seat, which will be decided by Oklahoma voters in November.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today released the following statement after the United States Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Tom Woods, R-Westville, issued the following statement Monday after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin.

“I extend my sincere congratulations to fellow Westville, Oklahoman Markwayne Mullin on his confirmation to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, today passed Senate Bill 1833 off the Senate floor by a 38-to-6 vote, sending the measure to the House of Representatives. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has advanced legislation to put guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in Oklahoma schools and ensure parents have a say in how the technology is used in their child’s classroom.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, secured unanimous Senate approval Tuesday for legislation to allow expert testimony to be admissible as evidence in human trafficking cases.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate today passed Senate Bill 1481 from Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, to double recess time for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Seifried’s legislation would increase the minimum amount of daily recess to 40 minutes for elementary school students and those in full-day kindergarten programs.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate advanced Senate Bill 1250 this week, a measure authored by Senator Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, to provide greater transparency for parents and ensure available school library materials do not contain or depict obscene material, sexually explicit content, nudity, or other material that is harmful to minors.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, today received passage of two bills that strengthen reporting requirements for potential sexual offenses by ensuring law enforcement is promptly notified of complaints that could require sex offender registration and by requiring school employees to quickly report suspected abuse or misconduct involving students.

Both pieces of legislation are supported by the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, has advanced legislation to strengthen Oklahoma’s research and development incentive program that encourages greater collaboration between businesses and higher education institutions.

The bill passed off the Senate floor today by a vote of 36-to-4.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democrats issued the following statements after the full Senate approved a bill promoting censorship in school libraries.

OKLAHOMA CITY- The full Senate has given approval to a measure to make it easier for Oklahomans to access information and services for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Senate Bill 1428, by Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday passed legislation from Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, that modifies an established tax incentive program that has been proven to attract key industries and businesses to the state.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt has won Senate approval for legislation to improve voter access in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1362 would add Saturdays to every early voting period before elections.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Monday overwhelmingly passed legislation from Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, that aims to break the cycle of abuse caused by domestic violence.

Coleman passed Senate Bill 1238 42 to 3 to increase penalties for domestic abuse in the presence of a child by making the first offense a felony crime. Currently, the first instance of this crime is a misdemeanor offense. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, won 24-0 passage in the full Appropriations Committee for Senate Bill 1290, creating the 211 Hotline Revolving Fund, taking the first step toward restoring critical funding to 211 Oklahoma, a hotline available to Oklahomans in need of assistance with bills, rent, food, transportation, healthcare, and more.