Sen. Micheal Bergstrom’s Press Releases

State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has been appointed to serve on the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, a 21-member panel that will help plan the state’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of “The Mother Road.”

Self-driving cars, e-scooters, more commercial uses for drones and drone-ports and the expanded use of electric vehicles were all part of the discussion at an interim study held this week by the Senate Transportation Committee. The Monday hearing was requested by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, who serves as vice-chair of the committee. He said emerging transportation technologies bring with them a host of opportunities and concerns that need to be addressed sooner, rather than later.

County sheriffs throughout Oklahoma have received much-needed support with the passage of Senate Bill 244 this past session. The measure, by Senate principal author Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, and House principal author Rep. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, ends a practice that often resulted in county jails having to pay for the cost of housing inmates awaiting transport to facilities operated by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC). The new law took effect on August 30.

OKLAHOMA CITY–   Thunderbird Challenge of Pryor graduated its 52nd class with 109 young men and women on Saturday, with State Senator Micheal Bergstrom attending the event. 

            Thunderbird Challenge, formerly Thunderbird Academy, is one of 10 nationally recognized programs established in 1993.  Oklahoma’s program, offered through the National Guard and the Oklahoma Military Department, has currently graduated over 3,000 of Oklahoma’s youth. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom took to the air today with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to tour flood damage in his district by plane. 

OKLAHOMA CITY–A budget agreement was announced on Wednesday at the State Capitol that includes increased funding for education, transportation, public safety and health care, among many other areas. The budget for Fiscal Year 2020 also earmarks $200 million for Oklahoma’s savings account, bringing rainy day funding to more than $1 billion. State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom says the budget is one of the strongest in recent years, giving more support in critical areas, while still showing fiscal restraint by having enough left over to boost the state’s savings account.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three transportation measures authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom were signed into law by Governor Stitt this month, bringing Oklahoma into compliance with federal regulations.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two measures authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom aimed at modifying state alcohol laws were signed into law by Governor Stitt this week. 

Senate Bill 113 allows a Retail Wine License or a Retail Beer License holder to sell beer or wine on credit when the holder of such license is a private membership club, marina, golf course or country club that normally charges food, drinks and other purchases to the member's monthly dues account in the regular course of business. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom that regulates self-driving cars in the state was signed by Governor Stitt this week. 

Senate Bill 365 creates the Oklahoma Driving Automation System Uniformity Act. The measure preempts local laws and asserts that only the state may enact laws or regulations regarding the use of motor vehicles equipped with driving automation systems in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom is commending the Senate’s approval of Ann Neal’s reappointment to the Oklahoma Arts Council. Neal will serve a three-year term ending July 1, 2022.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to carry Ann Neal's nomination to the Oklahoma Arts Council for the Governor,” said Bergstrom, R-Adair.  “The governor clearly sees the legacy of her years of service in Arts and Humanities and wants to continue to bring her expertise to the state level.  Ann will continue to be a great ambassador for northeastern Oklahoma on the state Arts Council."