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 28, 2026
Recent Posts

Dobrinski Celebrates Water Restoration Act Taking Effect

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Terry Peach Water Restoration Act, updated through House Bill 2988 , goes into effect statewide Nov. 1. Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, is the principal author of the bill.  The legislation creates a statewide program to remove or eradicate harmful woody species, such as eastern red cedars and other trees and brush that consume massive amounts of water and present a fire danger in watershed areas throughout the state. The program previously was approved as a pilot, tested in the North Canadian Watershed. "We made great progress after previous passage of bills to establish and fund the pilot program," Dobrinski said. "With lingering drought and persistent wildfire conditions throughout Oklahoma, the Legislature wisely chose to establish a consistent statewide plan to reverse the threat of these invasive species. I'm excited to have this law going into effect soon so other areas can benefit as we have in Western Oklahoma. Conservation of our resources and public protection from wildfires is of extreme importance." HB2988 specifies the program is to be administered by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Trey Lam, executive director of the commission, provided the following information about the program's implementation to date and plans moving forward:  2,450 acres, or 69 miles, of wildfire mitigation zones have been completed near 48 communities, lowering the risk of loss to life and property. The commission implemented 22,541 acres of prescribed fire through cost-share funds for landowners in Fiscal Years 2024 through 2026; 29,155 acres have been planned since July 1 for implementation in FY27. The commission completed seven Fighting Fire with Fire trainings for rural fire departments under the directives of the act since FY24. Five trainings are planned for FY27 with the first on Nov. 12 in Dewey. 55 grants have been awarded to rural fire departments and prescribed burn associations through the Fighting Fire with Fire workshop. 133 contracts for invasive woody species removal through the watershed restoration program were awarded in FY26, totaling 15,588 acres. The application period for FY27 Invasive Woody Species removal opened Sept. 1 and remains through Nov. 1. Currently, 600 applications have been received. Focus conservation districts for FY7 include the following counties and municipalities: Cleveland, Coal, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Hughes, Konawa, Lincoln, Logan, Major, McClain, Noble, North Caddo, Okfuskee, Oklahoma County, Okmulgee, Payne, Pontotoc, Seminole, Shawnee, South Caddo, West Caddo and Woodward. Applications can be made at the local conservation district office within the program area.                                                 The legislation also created the Water Restoration Revolving Fund to be used by the Conservation Commission to manage and eradicate, where possible, harmful woody species that damage grazing lands, create significant wildfire risk, reduce wildlife habitat and reduce water flow into state waterways and water basins. The commission is directed to cooperate with landowners, state agencies and other political subdivisions for the removal of the harmful woody species specified in the bill. It also must measure the density of the harmful woody species and estimate water used by those species as well as create a study using a parallel watershed with no control of harmful woody species, among other directives. Dobrinski was recognized earlier this month as the 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma (CCO), in part because of his work on this legislation. The award recognized Dobrinski's leadership on conservation legislation, commitment to responsible natural resource management and continued partnership in advancing practical, science-backed conservation policies across Oklahoma. The OCC specifically noted Dobrinski 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 HB2988 this year and serving as House author of Senate Bill 940 in 2025. Both address harmful woody species.

Oct 20, 2026
Recent Posts

Dobrinski Studies Biochar Impacts for Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, on Tuesday held an interim study before the House Agriculture Committee examining biochar production and its potential applications in Oklahoma. Study participants first had to learn what biochar is. Dr. Lori Han, with the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma, explained biochar is a carbon-rich material made from biomass that undergoes a thermochemical conversion process known as pyrolysis. A simpler way to say this is a once living material, exposed to high heat, becomes a material with new properties.  It is not charcoal, she explained. Instead, it comes from agricultural waste such as crop residue, manure and litter or nut shells. It also can come from trees and shrubs and other wood waste. The product then can be used to improve soil health and water retention, among other uses – turning a negative into a positive, Han said. Dobrinski said he became interested in biochar because of it's promise to transform invasive species, such as eastern red cedars, into something beneficial. "These trees consume enormous amounts of water and have a great potential of becoming fuel for wildfires in areas that experience frequent drought," Dobrinski said. "This causes public safety and conservation issues. We must remove these threats in order to stop the next devastating wildfire and preserve precious resources such as water. If we can create value and benefit at the same time, we want to learn all we can about that. That's the basis of this study." Eric Perner, a licensed professional petroleum/mechanical engineer and the chief operating officer at Rebellion Energy Solutions out of Tulsa, spoke of using eastern red cedars to produce biochar for orphan-well plugging, land restoration and regenerative agriculture in Oklahoma. The benefits of plugging abandoned oil and natural gas wells, Perner said, is mitigating methane gas emissions (super pollutants), protecting groundwater, eliminating public exposure to health and safety risks, increasing property values and allowing for incremental land use. Perner said he's witnessed the restoration of land and the return of native species, such as butterflies and birds, in places where biochar has been applied. He even suggested that data centers and other large energy consumers potentially could make use of biochar to offset water and energy usage at a minimal cost to taxpayers. He said there is so much opportunity that warrants further pursuit. Susan Bergen, chief executive officer of Bergen Enterprises and Prairie Dirt Solutions in Norman, discussed her company's industrial biochar production. They convert wood waste headed for landfills into biochar, which then becomes materials for school playgrounds, landscaping mulch or sawdust. Bergen said the material improves soil function, including aeration, has water-holding capacity, infiltrates and supports organic matter and can be used in crop production and feedstock. She said biochar even has been shown to remove pollutants from water, and the production process creates its own energy.  Matt Chandler, a founder and the CEO of Infinite ECO, detailed opportunities to convert eastern red cedar removal into biochar production, creating additional value from Oklahoma's existing cedar-clearing efforts. Chandler explained Oklahoma already pays to cut and clear invasive species like eastern red cedars every year. If the state doesn't convert the wood into a usable product, however, we're missing an economic opportunity. The state also buys materials every year when instead it could convert wood and agriculture waste into biochar that could be sold or used near where it is made. Cedar char could pay its own way through product sales and carbon credits, he said.? The Terry Peach Water Restoration Act, for example, which was updated through House Bill 2988 and goes into effect statewide Nov. 1, already has $5 million appropriated and has removed almost 16,000 acres of red cedars. The federal government spent about $23.6 million in Oklahoma from 2017 to 2024 on brush management. There's also private funding to consider. The wood from these projects currently is piled, burned or scattered. By turning it into biochar, the state could save or even make money, and could enjoy benefits such as stormwater and erosion control, stabilizing roadbeds, removing pollutants and more, Chandler said. It's a Dust Bowl-sized problem that will take effort from multiple sources to attack in a way that becomes regenerative going forward, he said, but it is possible. The study can be viewed on the House website under News & Media, Live Proceedings, then search calendar for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 20 for the specific study.

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.