TheRepublic.com - Oklahoma State Legislature News

Okla. House suspends work as tornado sirens blare

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:16:04 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma House has temporarily suspended its daily session and members were urged to head to the basement of the Capitol after tornado sirens sounded outside the building.

Okla. House panel approves $40M for Indian museum

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:12:04 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - A plan to divert $40 million in use taxes over three years to help complete construction of an American Indian Cultural Center and Museum along the banks of the Oklahoma River has cleared a House committee.

Time waning for Okla. lawmakers to tackle credits

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:08:24 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Despite calls by several Oklahoma legislators to address hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax credits and exemptions for businesses and industries, little has been done as another session approaches its end.

Fallin urges Okla. Legislature for health care fix

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:48:08 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Mary Fallin proposed a last-minute legislative change on Friday to the state's Insure Oklahoma program that would direct $50 million in state tobacco taxes to pay for more than 9,000 people who are expected to lose their health insurance under the program.

Okla. lawmakers near passage of DNA testing bill

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:52:46 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Convicted criminals who maintain their innocence would have a way to seek DNA testing to help prove their cases under a bill that is nearing final passage in the Legislature and would eliminate Oklahoma's dubious distinction as the only state in the nation without such a program.

Okla. House speaker derides education common core

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:08:47 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Republican House Speaker T.W. Shannon is joining a growing chorus of conservatives opposed to a set of public education principles known as common core state standards.

Fallin signs abortion reporting bill, 19 others

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:06:04 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Abortion providers in Oklahoma will be required to report dozens of new details about each procedure under a bill signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin.

Okla. House OKs new abortion notification rules

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:26:27 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma House has approved a bill that requires abortion providers to take additional steps to notify the parents of any minor seeking an abortion.

African-American Okla. judges honored by Senate

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:06:50 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Four groundbreaking African-American judges have been honored by the Oklahoma Senate.

Okla. Senate OKs bill on 'Black Friday' sales

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:37:40 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Low-price retail events like "Black Friday" sales where retailers sell some items at a steep discount would be legal again in Oklahoma under a bill approved Wednesday by the Oklahoma Senate.

Okla. Senate OKs 'Gordon Cooper Day' resolution

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:21:24 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - A Shawnee native who was one of the nation's first astronauts - Gordon Cooper - is being honored by the Oklahoma Senate.

Okla. Senate expected to pass $7.1B budget bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:28:24 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Senate is expected to consider and give final legislative approval to a $7.1 billion general appropriations bill that will fund state government for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.

Fallin signs law to slash income tax rate in 2015

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:12:36 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill into law Monday that cuts Oklahoma's top income tax rate to 5 percent in 2015 and provides $120 million for improvements to the state Capitol.

National GOP chairman touts Okla. speaker as star

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:04:22 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - The chairman of the Republican National Committee visited Oklahoma on Monday and called state House Speaker T.W. Shannon of Lawton a "rising star" within the GOP.

Fallin inks bill to raise driver's license fees

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:08:42 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - The cost of getting a driver's license is going up in Oklahoma.

Okla. legislator pushes zero-based agency budgets

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:43:38 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - A longtime Democratic legislator said Monday that he plans to push for a statewide vote to require the Legislature to conduct "zero-based" budgeting on state agencies every four years.

Fallin vetoes bill to give workers 401k option

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:20:44 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Mary Fallin has vetoed a bill that would have given state workers the option of enrolling in a defined contribution retirement plan similar to a 401(k).

Nixon likely to veto Mo. income tax cut plan

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:48:17 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Gov. Jay Nixon indicated Friday that he is likely to veto legislation that would cut Missouri's income taxes for businesses and individuals, saying he has serious concerns that it could jeopardize funding for essential government services.

Okla. state senator to seek Democratic Party post

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:35:19 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - A state senator from Oklahoma City has announced her candidacy for chairwoman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Okla. House considering trooper equipment bonus

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:37:35 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma House is expected to consider a measure that would increase the amount of money Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers receive each month for an equipment allowance.

House speaker to give Cameron commencement address

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:53:58 -0400

LAWTON, Oklahoma - Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon has more than one reason to attend Friday night's commencement address at Cameron University.

Okla. Legislature honors Byng teacher for award

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:13:13 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma legislators have honored a science teacher from Byng Junior High School for her induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Okla. Democrats say absent lawmaker voted on bill

Thu, 09 May 2013 19:02:25 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma House Democrats say an improper vote was cast for a $7.1 billion budget bill on behalf of a Republican legislator who had left the building.

Okla. House approves changes to abortion reporting

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:30:45 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Abortion providers in Oklahoma would be required to answer dozens of new questions on a state questionnaire under a bill given final approval in the House despite concerns the bill paves the way for costly litigation against the state.

Okla. prison workers decry lack of pay raise

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:12:58 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma prison workers say they are nearing a breaking point with staffing shortages, low wages and the increasing prison population.