Representative Eric Roberts

R

District 83

Hi, I’m Eric Roberts and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 83rd District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Whip

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Apr 26, 2024
Recent Posts

Landowners' Right of First Refusal Bill Sent to Governor

A measure granting landowners the right of first refusal in eminent domain sales has been sent to the Governor's desk. House Bill 3159, authored by Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, would give landowners the right of first refusal if the state or any person who acquired the land through eminent domain authority decides to sell the land. "If the state acquires land via eminent domain from a landowner and subsequently decides to sell it publicly, it's only fair that the original landowner has the right to repurchase the land before it is offered to anyone else," Roberts said. "Eminent domain shouldn't be used to transfer land from one private party to another." Before the state can publicly sell land acquired via eminent domain, the state must offer the land back to the original landowner or the first generation of heirs. If the landowner chooses to repurchase the land, the cost would be the lower of the current market value or the amount paid to the landowner when the land was taken. Roberts extends his appreciation to the Legislature for their support, to Senator Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, for carrying the measure in the Senate, and to Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, for her collaboration on the bill.  HB3159 passed the House 91 – 1 in March and passed the Senate 38 – 0 this week. It now heads to the Governor's desk for final consideration.

Apr 8, 2024
Recent Posts

Roberts Appointed to Energy & Environment Committee for CSG Southern Office

Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, was recently appointed to the Energy & Environment Committee for the Council of State Governments (CSG) Southern Office by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. Roberts was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2020 after nearly three decades as a business owner and developer. He served on the MAPS 3 Oversight Committee of Oklahoma City and the Board of Ozarks Teen Challenge. "Energy is a critical driver in Oklahoma's economy," Roberts said. "I'm glad to be part of a group that will give me the opportunity to highlight the industry's contributions while balancing environmental concerns." Established in 1947, the CSG Southern Office is the largest of four regions operating under the Council of State Governments. They aim to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among 15 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Energy & Environment Committee exchanges ideas for effective legislation and organizes programs to create strategies to address shared energy and environmental concerns. The committee is comprised of state officials from all levels of government.

Mar 5, 2024
Recent Posts

House Passes Bill to Facilitate Cosmetology and Barber Training in Prisons

Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, on Monday, won unanimous House passage of a bill designed to help prisoners develop work skills for employment options upon their release from prison. House Bill 3158 would help cosmetology and barber schools in prisons continue to educate and train students by modifying the current school application requirements. Roberts pointed out that the requirements for prison schools are not practical, as they are not tailored to the realities of having a school within a prison. For instance, these schools cannot obtain property leases that schools outside of prisons can. "In recent years, Oklahoma lawmakers have worked to reduce hurdles to employment for people with a criminal record through reforms such as occupational licensing reform and expungement automation under certain circumstances," Roberts said. "When an individual can find employment after serving their time, it significantly reduces the chances they will return to crime and incarceration." Under the measure, correctional facility schools are exempt from submitting a financial statement as they provide education free of charge and do not collect any funds. These schools will also obtain a memorandum of understanding from the Department of Corrections. Currently, RISE Cosmetology School has programming in the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. "My wife, Leigh, and I have had the privilege of witnessing the transformative impact of the RISE program on the lives of former prisoners who received training in cosmetology," Roberts said. "Through expanding employment and educational opportunities, we can help our recently incarcerated neighbors rebuild their lives after prison." HB3158 is supported by Prison Fellowship, which works to restore lives and families impacted by incarceration. It is now available for consideration in the Senate, where Sen. Rader, R-Tulsa, carries it.