State

Retired teacher Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, said his Senate Bill 1115 is desperately needed to help decrease classroom sizes by extending emergency teaching certificates.

The Senate Finance Committee has passed Senate Bill 1388, which would incentivize urban gardeners across the state to raise honeybees by giving tax exempt status to any bee product sold.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 25, 2020) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today made the following remarks after the Oklahoma House Common Education Committee passed House Bill 2905 by a vote of 16 to 0. The bill, authored by Rep. Sheila Dills, provides reforms and transparency to statewide virtual charter schools. “Today’s vote is…

“Oklahoma is the only state in the entire country that doesn’t require seat belts for kids over the age of eight, and it’s no coincidence that vehicle fatalities are the number one cause of death for children eight and older here in Oklahoma.”

“When domestic violence includes strangulation, studies show it’s much, much more likely they’ll eventually murder their victim. Strangulation victims are 750 percent more likely to be murdered than victims who’ve never been strangled. I believe strengthening the penalties can help us save lives.”

If approved, beginning July 1, 2020, the State Board of Education would provide annual bonuses to a teacher who completes a set of criteria.

SB 1714 removes the arbitrary $20,000 annual gross sales limit placed on formerly known home food establishments. It also requires that ingredients be labeled and state that the product was made in a home kitchen.

Some state legislators believe the state's constitution—which includes language about communicating via telegram, and elaborates against railroad monopolies—is in need of an upgrade.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved legislation Wednesday to expand the definition of child abuse to better protect Oklahoma’s children and hold abusers accountable. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, authored Senate Bill 1773, which extends the crime to include anyone who engages in or enables child abuse. “We must do all we…

Herman White, a Navy veteran, passed away earlier this month with no surviving family. Senators are encouraging those who can to pay tribute to this man.