OKPOLICY.ORG
Updated 3/17/2025 to note floor vote on HB 1129.
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Oklahoma’s housing crisis continues to be a statewide issue as seen through rising evictions, increasing rates of homelessness, and a severe lack of affordable housing options. These growing indicators should signal that our state legislators should be seeking solutions to Oklahoma’s housing crisis. Some lawmakers are doing just that, while some are creating even more barriers between Oklahomans and safe, affordable housing. Below is the good, bad, and the ugly of housing legislation at the Oklahoma Capitol so far this session.
Fast, cheap evictions contribute to housing instability, but some legislators are seeking to change that
Oklahoma has one of the nation’s quickest eviction timelines and least expensive eviction filing fees. The ready availability of fast, cheap evictions is proven to lead to more evictions. House Bill 1129 by Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, would increase the eviction filing fee from $45 to $85, the first increase in more than 20 years. Increasing eviction filing fees has been shown to drastically reduce eviction filings. HB 1129 passed the oversight committee. HB 1129 got a vote on the house floor and failed, but the bill author made a motion to reconsider so it could be heard again.
Senate Bill 128 by Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, would increase the eviction timeline. The proposal would change the time tenants have to appear in court from between 5 and 10 days and extend it to between 10 and 15 days. It also would change the deadline by which court summons have to be delivered to a tenant from three days before a hearing to seven days. This simple change would give tenants more time to gather back rent, make alternate arrangements for housing, or simply be able to arrange child care or time off work to show up for their eviction hearing. Landlords would maintain their ability to evict immediately in the case of property damage or criminal behavior. SB 128 passed committee and is eligible for a Senate floor vote.
Both HB 1129 and SB 128 would help drive down evictions and prevent Oklahoma renters from falling into housing instability and homelessness. Legislators should support these measures.
Unfortunately, a bill to seal eviction records, SB 815, failed to get a vote before the legislative deadline. Eviction records are publicly available indefinitely, even those that were dismissed or found in favor of the tenant. Landlords are often unwilling to rent to a tenant with an eviction history – known as a Scarlet E – that can create decades-long problems for potential renters. An eviction record shouldn’t be a lifetime barrier to housing, and this legislation should be revisited next year.
Oklahoma doesn’t have the statewide housing plan it desperately needs
Oklahoma, like the rest of the country, is in a housing crisis. The key to addressing a crisis is having a solid plan. SB 275 by Sen. Kirt, would create a workforce housing commission. The commission would bring a broad range of stakeholders – including developers, non-profits, and municipal government representatives – to the table to address the most pressing housing challenges and develop a plan to address them. SB 275 passed committee and is eligible for a Senate floor vote. Legislators should support SB 275 and ensure Oklahoma is prepared to tackle the growing housing shortage problem.
Some legislators are choosing the exact wrong way to address rising homelessness
The number of Oklahomans experiencing homelessness increased 17.6 percent between 2023 and 2024. The root cause of homelessness is lack of affordable housing. But instead of addressing the cause, some legislators are choosing to address only its symptoms. This misplaced focus creates more barriers and makes it harder for Oklahomans to find a safe and stable home.
SB 484 would prohibit any Oklahoma city with a population less than 300,000 – all cities except Oklahoma City and Tulsa – from building homeless shelters within 3,000 feet of any school, school property, public library, municipal park, child or adult day care facility, or pre-kindergarten facility. This distance requirement is even more stringent than state laws for registered sex offenders. It would make it nearly impossible to build shelter anywhere but the furthest outskirts of town, far from the services that people experiencing homelessness need to get back on their feet. SB 484 passed committee and is eligible for a Senate floor vote.
HB 1764 would build upon legislation passed last year prohibiting unauthorized camping on state-owned land. This new bill would extend those restrictions to include municipal and county land. The ban would penalize unhoused Oklahomans living on these public lands with up to a $50 fine or even up to 15 days in jail. All because they did not have a place to call home. HB 1764 is eligible for a House floor vote.
The best way to combat homelessness is to help people secure housing. Legislators should reject SB 484 and HB 1764 that focus only on symptoms of Oklahoma’s homelessness problem. Instead, they should look to real solutions, such as eviction reform and increasing Oklahoma’s affordable housing supply.
Oklahoma renters will go another year without a way to hold negligent landlords accountable
When landlords fail to make repairs to address health and safety concerns, Oklahoma renters have almost no recourse, especially if the repair costs more than one month’s rent. HB 2015 would have made tenants eligible to recoup damages, attorney fees, and court costs when landlords refuse to make needed repairs. HB 2015 failed to get a vote in committee before the legislative deadline.
State legislators also failed to advance anti-retaliation legislation this session. Oklahoma will remain one of only six states that doesn’t protect tenants against retaliatory actions, such as filing an eviction, ending a lease, increasing rent or fees, or denying the use of premises or service in response to a tenant reporting a health or safety issue.
Oklahoma state lawmakers could make big strides toward housing security this year
Solving the state’s housing crisis is no small feat, but legislators have several options available to support this year to help ensure Oklahomans have the safe housing they need. Unfortunately, they also have bad options available to them. Homelessness cannot be solved by pushing it out of sight through criminalization and banning needed services. Rising inflation and Oklahoma’s persistently high poverty rates mean housing insecurity could get much worse. Legislators should choose wisely this session to put Oklahoma on the right path.
