Representative Mike Dobrinski

R

District 59

Hi, I'm Mike Dobrinski and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 59th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Whip

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Oct 13, 2026
Recent Posts

Dobrinski Named Legislator of the Year by Conservation Coalition

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma (CCO) has named Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, its 2026 Legislator of the Year. The award recognizes Dobrinski's leadership on conservation legislation, commitment to responsible natural resource management and continued partnership in advancing practical, science-backed conservation policies across Oklahoma.  Dobrinski was applauded for his significant contributions to conservation policy and his ongoing commitment to collaborative problem-solving. "Preserving and properly managing our state's natural resources for the benefit of our residents and future generations is incredibly important to the constituents I serve," Dobrinski said. "To be recognized for this work and my passion on behalf of all Oklahomans is an honor." Dobrinski was specifically noted for his active involvement in addressing woody plant encroachment, the fuel behind many Oklahoma wildfires, and a growing concern for Oklahoma’s water resources, native grasslands, wildlife habitat and agricultural productivity. His legislative efforts include authoring House Bill 2988 this year and serving as House author of Senate Bill 940 in 2025. Both address harmful woody species. Dobrinski also has worked closely with CCO to advance discussions on emerging energy technologies, sponsoring legislative interim studies examining advanced nuclear energy and geothermal energy. Continuing that partnership, Dobrinski is sponsoring an interim study on biochar scheduled for Oct. 20.  CCO also recognized Dobrinski for his accessibility, willingness to listen and thoughtful engagement on complex conservation issues.  “Representative Dobrinski has been a tremendous representative for his constituents and partner in efforts to protect natural resources for all Oklahomans with Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma,” said CCO Executive Director Matt Wright. “Whether we’re discussing legislation we support, raising concerns about proposals we oppose or exploring new approaches to conservation, he has consistently made himself available to listen and engage in meaningful conversations. We don’t have to agree on every issue to work together effectively, and that willingness to listen, ask challenging questions and work toward practical solutions is what makes good public policy possible.” The Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing practical, science-backed conservation policies that protect Oklahoma’s water, wildlife, habitat and natural resources. Through education, collaboration and advocacy, CCO works with policymakers, Tribal Nations, conservation organizations, agriculture, industry and communities to promote responsible stewardship of Oklahoma’s natural resources.

Sep 18, 2026
Recent Posts

Dobrinski Studies 522 EMS Funding and School Fund Balances

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, on Thursday, led an interim study examining Oklahoma’s 522 Emergency Medical Services' districts, including funding structures and service sustainability in rural communities. He also participated in a study analyzing public school districts' General Fund balance penalties and funding structures for schools that do not receive funding through the traditional School Funding Formula, known as off-formula schools. The latter study was hosted with Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, who serves as the chair of the House Common Education Committee. "Both emergency ambulance services and public school funding are incredibly important issues to constituents both in my House district in northwest Oklahoma and in multiple communities throughout the state," Dobrinski said. "In both cases, we must make sure we have the right laws in place to ensure fairness when appropriating taxpayer dollars and to allow local officials the latitude to best meet the needs of those they serve." A 522 EMS District (named after State Question 522, approved by Oklahoma voters in 1976) is a locally organized, voter-approved special district that provides dedicated public funding and local board governance for emergency medical and ambulance services. Interim Study IS26-056 reviewed how EMS district funding in Oklahoma is administered, including the role of county governments and the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The goal was to identify funding disparities; assess challenges facing rural ambulance providers, including rising costs; review how various counties manage EMS funding; and evaluate potential strategies to improve long-term reliability and emergency response times. Study presenters included Bobby Stem, with the Oklahoma nonprofit EMS System, Brandi Pond, executive director of Oologah-Talala EMS, and Brian Norton, executive director of Bryan County EMS. Each discussed EMS funding, service costs and emergency response times and procedures. Marie Schuvel, director of Tax Policy Research with the Oklahoma Tax Commission detailed how EMS and ambulance districts are funded and how things have worked historically in the state. Presenters in Interim Study IS26-021 gave a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative review of General Fund balance penalties for Oklahoma public school districts. The study relied largely on data requested from the Oklahoma State Department of Education that was organized in a digestible format by study authors and House staff. Similarly, a review was conducted on the number of school districts off-formula currently, in recent years, or that are within a defined margin of changing between off- and on-formula. An examination of the effects of recent legislative actions on funding for off-formula school districts and financial stability also were part of the study. Presenters in the study included BJ Ryan, chief financial officer and executive director of finance for Moore Public Schools, who gave an overview of the state School Funding Formula. Ethan Worley, government relations associate with the State Department of Education, answered funding and carryover questions. Rob Friesen, superintendent of the Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified School District spoke on what change is needed regarding carryover funds. Kevin Sims, superintendent of Minco Public Schools, detailed implications for off-formula schools. Kyle Hilterbran, superintendent of Watonga Public Schools, spoke of legislative changes that would help to avoid penalties for off-formula schools. Presenters commented on how best to treat the data to support schools equitably through funding and legislative changes. The underlying goal is supporting predictable financial health in school districts to produce quality student learning outcomes. One goal of the study was to determine if current policies regarding General Fund balance penalties have a notable benefit or harm to students and districts. Outlining potential legislative changes will be the next action item, the lawmakers said. Both studies can be viewed on the House website, okhouse.gov , under News & Media, Live Proceedings. Search the calendar for Sept. 17 then for individual studies.

Jul 17, 2026
Recent Posts

Dobrinski Responds to USG's Announced Closure

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, today commented on the announcement that U.S. Gypsum (USG) plans to close its Southard plant in northern Blaine County in November, affecting over 250 employees. "USG has been one of the largest employers in this area for over a century," Dobrinski said. "This is devastating news for these employees, their families and our area as a whole."  Dobrinski said he is working alongside Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, and Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, both of whom have affected constituents. "We are working to ensure these employees will have much needed resources such as state unemployment benefits, along with additional workforce training and education to help meet their needs. We are engaging our area CareerTech centers of Chisholm Trail, Northwest, Autry and High Plains to begin coordination and communicating opportunities that can provide new careers right here at home. We are fortunate to have many businesses in diverse industries here in Northwest Oklahoma that are actively expanding their workforce every week. While this news was not expected and certainly disappointing, we will continue doing all we can to ensure other businesses see our area as a valuable place to locate their operations." Dobrinski said the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission offers the Oklahoma Works Rapid Response program, which provides on-site employee workshops, job search assistance, career counseling, training opportunities, food assistance resources and more. The commission also can assist with filing for unemployment benefits, including for large groups facing mass layoffs. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce and area chambers of commerce also are being tapped for assistance.  USG, purchased by German-based Knauf Group in 2019, operates a major gypsum mine and processing plant in Southard. The company announced July 16 that it will begin to idle its manufacturing facility and phase out a majority of the industrial products portfolio manufactured at this plant, with plans to close the plant in November. In a statement, USG said its decision was based in part on the escalating complexity and cost to mine and manufacture the specialized products in the company's portfolio. The company said it would support impacted employees by offering career transition resources, relocation opportunities for those interested in transferring to another USG facility and severance packages. Dobrinski said while he appreciates these resources being offered, he hopes those affected will be able to remain in the communities where they now live. "We don't want to lose any families to other areas of Oklahoma or other states," Dobrinski said. "We want them to stay right here and thrive in a place that has strong and safe local schools, rural healthcare, friendly neighbors and an excellent way of life."