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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed three bills aimed at removing obstacles for individuals seeking to reintegrate into society after incarceration by addressing the challenges of driver’s license restoration.

“When someone is released from prison, he or she is expected to get a job and be a productive member of society,” Bergstrom said “There are many roadblocks to that happening. One is not being able to get a driver’s license so they can drive to and from a job or even a child's school function. Today I have filed three bills, SB 216, SB 218, and SB 220, so that we can look at the options to fix this problem."

Senate Bill 216 allows individuals whose licenses expired while in the custody of the Department of Corrections to apply for a six-month provisional license without requiring immediate payment of outstanding fines and fees. At the end of this period, license holders would begin making a minimum payment of $25 per month toward their balances.

Senate Bill 218 provides a similar pathway but does not include the six-month suspension of payments, offering an alternative approach for individuals with varying financial circumstances.

Senate Bill 220 addresses situations where licenses expired during the suspension or revocation period. It grants a 90-day grace period during which the expired license is considered valid. During this time, Service Oklahoma would notify individuals about the grace period and provide instructions for securing a new license. Additionally, the Department of Corrections would be required to provide inmates with the necessary documentation to obtain a provisional license upon release.

"I have heard from employers about hard working employees who have been unable to get a license for years,” Bergstrom said. “This must be fixed."

These bills can be considered when the legislative session begins on February 3, 2025.

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For more information, contact:
Sen. Micheal Bergstrom at 405-521-5561 or email Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov 

Immediate Release: Jan. 6, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed Senate Bill 349, a measure aimed at ensuring greater transparency in financial contributions from foreign entities to Oklahoma’s higher education institutions.

Under SB 349, all state and accredited private institutions of higher education in Oklahoma will be required to submit a quarterly report detailing any contracts, gifts, grants, endowments, awards, or donations exceeding $50,000 received from foreign sources. These reports will be made publicly accessible under the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

“This bill is about transparency and accountability,” Bergstrom said. “The public has a right to know where significant funding for our higher education institutions is coming from, especially when it originates from foreign entities. SB 349 ensures that Oklahomans have visibility into these financial relationships.”

The legislation also imposes penalties for noncompliance. Institutions that fail to report qualifying contributions face fines of up to $10,000 per incident, with the fine amount and any unreported funding being deposited into the state’s General Revenue Fund. Additionally, the attorney general is authorized to investigate institutions suspected of noncompliance.

SB 349 can be considered when the legislative session begins on February 3, 2025.

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For more information, contact:
Sen. Micheal Bergstrom at 405-521-5561 or email Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov 

Immediate Release:  Oct. 31, 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Emergency Drought Committee approved a new program to deliver critical drought relief for Oklahoma agricultural producers. The application period opens on Nov. 12 and will remain open through Jan. 31, 2025. Applications will be available at local conservation districts and on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission website starting Nov. 12.

Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, and Rep. Kenton Patzkowsky, R-Balko, authored HB3182, the legislation which made this program possible. The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to declare drought conditions, opening the path to distributing emergency funds pending committee approval.

“Drought has hit our producers hard this year, and they need timely support to keep operations running,” Pederson said. “This new assistance program is designed to offer immediate, practical relief to those impacted by severe drought. From helping to secure water resources to addressing infrastructure needs, this program will be a critical tool in ensuring that Oklahoma’s producers can weather these conditions and continue to drive our agricultural economy.”

To qualify, producers must be in counties where 25 percent or more of the land area is categorized as D1 drought or worse, as indicated by the National Drought Monitor. Each Thursday at 9 a.m., the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will publish an updated list of eligible counties to local conservation districts.

Eligible producers may apply for assistance with several practices, including pipeline installation, heavy-use protection areas, water wells, pumping plants, watering facilities, pasture taps, and pond cleanouts.

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For more information, contact:
Sen. Roland Pederson at 405-521-5630, or email Roland.Pederson@oksenate.gov.