Oklahoma Senate concludes session

The Senate concluded the 2nd session of the 54th Legislature a week ahead of schedule Friday.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said the session was challenging, yet productive, citing many accomplishments passed into law this year, including:

• Significant pension reform that will protect current workers, make Oklahoma more attractive to the next generation and help reduce the state’s pension debt liability

• A tax cut for hard-working Oklahomans

• A balanced budget giving $105 million in new money to common education and cutting government in non-critical areas

• Certainty and fairness in Oklahoma’s gross production tax collections

• A bond to fix Oklahoma’s crumbling Capitol

• Pay raises to high-need state employees like social workers, nurses, troopers and Corrections officers based on an independent pay study

“Given our budgetary challenges, I believe we have served the people of Oklahoma well this legislative session and made progress in making Oklahoma the best place to live and work in the nation,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “I would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work this session on behalf of the people of Oklahoma.”