SB 484: Municipalities; prohibiting approval of certain facility within certain locations. Emergency. - Oklahoma

SB484 (3-11-25) (STANDRIDGE) FA1.PDF → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add comprehensive definitions for homeless-related terms and establish new zoning restrictions for homeless shelters in smaller municipalities. The changes clarify who qualifies as a homeless person and add protections for domestic violence shelters and youth shelters from the new location restrictions.

Scope change

The bill now applies specifically to municipalities with populations under 300,000 and adds exemptions for domestic violence shelters and youth shelters from location restrictions.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'domestic violence shelter', 'domestic violence victim', 'homeless person', 'homeless shelter', 'unaccompanied minor', 'youth shelter', and 'entity'.

REQUIREMENT

Requires written notice to nearby property owners within 1,000 feet of proposed homeless shelter locations in municipalities under 300,000 population.

Prohibits approval of new homeless shelters within 3,000 feet of schools, libraries, parks, or day care facilities in smaller municipalities.

EXEMPTIONS

Exempts domestic violence shelters and youth shelters from the new location restrictions.

ENFORCEMENT

Allows existing properly-zoned homeless shelters to continue operating even if new facilities are built nearby.

Committee Substitute → SB484 (3-11-25) (STANDRIDGE) FA1.PDF · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to narrow its application to only municipalities with populations under 300,000, remove the prohibition on placing homeless shelters near schools and other facilities, and add an exception allowing homeless shelters to operate within places of worship. These changes significantly reduce restrictions on where homeless shelters can be located.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from applying to all municipalities to only those with populations under 300,000, and the geographic restrictions on shelter locations were substantially reduced.

SCOPE

Added population threshold of 300,000 to limit the bill's application to smaller municipalities only

REQUIREMENT

Deleted the prohibition on placing homeless shelters within 3,000 feet of schools, libraries, parks, and other facilities

Removed the requirement to mail notices to property owners near proposed shelter locations

ELIGIBILITY

Added exception allowing homeless shelters to operate within places of worship

Engrossed → Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from an Engrossed version to a Committee Substitute version, primarily adding new notice requirements for proposed homeless shelters and expanding the list of protected locations near which shelters cannot be built. The changes aim to improve public safety by ensuring affected property owners receive written and posted notice before zoning hearings, while also protecting additional community facilities like public libraries, parks, and day care centers.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include additional protected locations (public libraries, municipal parks, child and adult day care facilities, and prekindergarten facilities) beyond just schools and school property, and added specific notice requirements for municipalities proposing homeless shelters.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for municipal governing bodies to mail written notice by first-class mail to all real property owners within 1,000 feet of the proposed homeless shelter location within 30 days of the hearing.

Added requirement that notice of the hearing must also be posted on the affected property at least 20 days before the hearing date.

SCOPE

Expanded protected locations to include public libraries, municipal parks, child and adult day care facilities, and prekindergarten facilities in addition to schools and school property.

DEFINITION

Changed the bill title from 'ENGROSSED SENATE BILL' to 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' and updated the page numbering and reference numbers in the footer.

TECHNICAL

Added a new subsection E clarifying that the provisions do not apply to domestic violence shelters or youth shelters, which was previously included in subsection D.

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · Mar 25, 2025

MODERATE

SB 484 was significantly rewritten from an Introduced version to an Engrossed version, fundamentally changing its purpose and scope. The original bill prohibited small municipalities from maintaining homeless services and required termination of such services. The new version instead prohibits approval of homeless shelters near schools while exempting domestic violence shelters, youth shelters, and shelters in places of worship.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from requiring termination of homeless services to restricting where new homeless shelters can be approved based on proximity to schools.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Domestic violence shelter', 'Domestic violence victim', and 'Unaccompanied minor' that were not present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that municipalities terminate homeless services and cease using land for homeless shelters on a specific date.

Added prohibition on approving homeless shelters within 3,000 feet of any school or school property in municipalities with populations under 300,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for domestic violence shelters, youth shelters, and homeless shelters operated within places of worship from the school proximity restriction.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from November 1, 2025 to immediate effect upon passage and approval.

TECHNICAL

Changed the codification section from Title 11 Section 22-140 to Title 11 Section 43-116.

Municipalities; prohibiting approval of certain facility within certain locations. Emergency.

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