Dear friends:

Only 5 weeks to the finish line, and that's getting out 1 week early. I continue to hope that we will be finished very soon. The General Appropriations budget bill was voted on and passed in both bodies, so there really isn't much left other than iron out the few differences in legislation still alive. That's called a "conference committee", which as you may remember, isn't really a committee at all, but rather all parties concerned meeting with the author of the bill to hammer out the finished language, a small group of 'conferees' (legislators) that must sign the bill out of conference, and then on to the senate floor. Surely with less than 1/3 of the bills filed, and most of them having been sent to the Governor's desk, it won't take long for us to finish up and be home for the interim.

Some of the bills we did finish up this week, on the Senate side are;

House Bill 1080 by Sen. Paddack sends to the vote of the people a question about a Constitutional Convention. We are, by law, to have one every so often. The state has not had a Constitutional Convention in quite a long time.

House Bill 2740 by Sen. Leftwich allows the Dept. of Health to initiate a proposal for a long term care facility for high level sex offenders. This would allow the state to build a facility for sex offenders and remove them from the public at large in regular nursing homes.

House Concurrent Resolution by Sen. Ford sets up the website www.oklahomarocksong.org for your vote on Oklahoma's rock and roll song. At least you can vote on that one and it's better than making the watermelon the state vegetable!

House Bill 2241 by Sen. Lamb permits the Victims Compensation Board to grant an additional $20,000 to victims or dependents of deceased victims.

House Bill 1897 by Sen. Leftwich makes violence against a pregnant woman punishable for up to 1 year in the county jail.

Many of you have asked about the "English Only" bill that has had so much attention. It passed through the House this week and will be back to the Senate for a final hearing.

Hearing bills is only part of the process at the Capitol. Having visitors is always a highlight for me. If you haven't been to your State Capitol lately, I urge you to come. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the United States.

I'll be working there for you again this week. Hope to see you soon!

Your public servant 24/7

Senator Riley

P. S.

Campaign season will soon be upon us. Should you desire to have reports of my campaign, please write to me at Rileyforsenate@aol. I won't be sending them out unless you request to be 'on the list'. Blessings to you all.