Senate Review by Senator James Leewright

This past week my fellow members and I returned to the Capitol for the first session activity since March 17^th, the day we learned a staffer had tested positive for COVID-19.  The building was closed for deep cleaning, and legislators, along with staff, were all asked to continue working remotely.  We’ve stayed connected by phone, videoconferences and by email, continuing to work to address the pandemic and other issues related to the session—in particular, the state budget.

But this past Monday, we convened at the Capitol to meet in a special session which was triggered when the governor declared a statewide health emergency.  It was our responsibility to affirm or deny that declaration, which gives the governor temporarily expanded powers to help Oklahoma better respond to the virus.  Both chambers affirmed the action, but as an additional check and balance, the resolution approving the health emergency declaration included a provision that legislative leaders would be given prior notice by the governor before any specific statutes or regulations were suspended under the declaration.