Senate approves bill modernizing tag agencies/services

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given approval to a measure that will modernize and standardize services Oklahoma consumers receive at local tag agencies.  Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, is the author of Senate Bill 1605, creating Service Oklahoma.

Hall said the bill is the result of nearly 18 months of review and evaluation on how to improve services for Oklahoma citizens for driver licenses, tags and vehicle titles.  He co-chaired a bipartisan, bicameral panel of legislators with input from a tag agent working group and the executive branch. Hall said all signed off on the changes contained in SB 1605.

“This bill is good for the people of Oklahoma.  The pandemic, along with software issues and other challenges implementing the issuance of REAL IDs, underscored the need to modernize and standardize how we deliver services to citizens,” Hall said.  “Whether you go to a Service Oklahoma location in a metropolitan area or a rural community, you are going to be able to receive the same high level of customer service, with standardized services and hours of operation.”

Under SB 1605, services now administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) would be administered by Service Oklahoma under the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), consolidating all transactions and creating a model similar to a franchise system, ensuring standardized services throughout the state.

“Down the line, we could even see enhanced services so that Oklahomans could more conveniently obtain other official documents like birth certificates, a pikepass, or a marriage certificate,” Hall said.  “This is simply about creating better customer service and greater accessibility for our citizens.”

SB 1605 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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For more information, contact: Sen. Chuck Hall, 405-521-5628 or Chuck.Hall@oksenate.gov.