SB 2139 requires Oklahoma municipalities to amend property plats to remove discriminatory language (such as racial or religious restrictions) that violate the Fair Housing Act. It directs county clerks to erase such language from existing property records after a municipality passes an ordinance, without needing property owner approval. The bill affects neighborhoods with outdated discriminatory covenants in their recorded plats. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.
HB 2115 transfers administration of Oklahoma's Energy Conservation Assistance Fund from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. It provides grants of up to $3,000 for weatherization work (like insulation, storm windows, and structural repairs) to low-income elderly and handicapped homeowners who meet income guidelines (125% of federal poverty level). The bill requires an energy audit before grants are issued, prioritizes applicants with greatest need, and establishes a revolving fund for ongoing program funding. This directly affects qualifying homeowners seeking energy efficiency improvements to their primary residences.
SB 1209 modifies Oklahoma's eviction court procedures by changing the required time frame for scheduling trials in forcible entry and detainer cases (commonly known as eviction cases). The bill specifies that the summons must require defendants to appear for trial within 5 to 10 days, excluding weekends and holidays, from the date the summons is issued. This change directly affects tenants and landlords involved in eviction court proceedings across Oklahoma. The key provision clarifies the timeline for defendants to prepare their defense, ensuring a standardized 5-10 day window for trial scheduling after the summons is delivered.
SB 483 allows Oklahoma counties to create programs helping homeless individuals relocate to family members, employers, or others who will provide support. It sets strict eligibility rules: participants must be sober during travel, not on parole without approval, not have used such a program in the past two years, and must be homeless as defined by law (lacking stable housing, including those displaced by violence). Counties must verify with the destination contact before travel and document their agreement, then check in with participants 90 days later. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 3386 modifies Oklahoma's landlord-tenant law by requiring court-supervised mediation before a landlord can terminate a lease due to unpaid rent when minor children reside in the rental unit. For all other tenants without minor children, landlords may still terminate leases after a 5-day grace period following written notice of unpaid rent. The bill amends Section 131 of Title 41 O.S. 2021 and becomes effective November 1, 2026, directly affecting landlords and tenants in households with minor children facing rent delinquency.
HB 4301 requires escrow and title companies to return earnest money to qualified U.S. veterans or active duty military members if a property appraises for less than the contract price. Companies that fail to comply face a $500 civil penalty per violation, with the funds added to the Attorney General's Law Enforcement Revolving Fund. The bill enforces a federal rule (38 C.F.R. § 36.4303(k)) and takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects veterans, active duty military members purchasing property, and the entities handling their escrow payments.
HB 3131 establishes a statewide framework for homeless services in Oklahoma, administered by the State Department of Health. It requires all homeless service providers receiving public funds (including state, federal, or local money) to meet minimum public health, safety, and financial accountability standards. Providers must submit annual reports on funding, services, and outcomes, while local county boards coordinate with providers and law enforcement on safety protocols. The bill also creates statewide reporting requirements and enforcement procedures for noncompliance, ensuring transparency without disclosing personal client information.
HB 3453 changes Oklahoma's eminent domain process by requiring courts to independently review whether a government taking qualifies as a "public use" and is "necessary," without deferring to the government's prior conclusions. It shifts the burden of proof entirely to the condemning authority (like cities or utilities), requiring them to prove necessity for each property parcel separately and show all feasible alternatives were considered. The bill mandates that property owners receive 60 days' notice of all project studies, environmental reviews, and financial analyses before a hearing. If the government fails to meet this burden, property owners may recover their legal fees. This bill affects all property owners facing eminent domain and the agencies seeking to use it, effective November 1, 2026.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment (HJR 1081) that would eliminate the income requirement for Oklahoma seniors to qualify for a property tax limit on their homesteads. Currently, seniors aged 65+ must meet an income threshold based on HUD median income for their area; this amendment removes that requirement while keeping the age, 7-year occupancy, and $700,000 property value cap. It would apply only to homesteads valued at $700,000 or less, with the tax limit frozen at the value when the owner turned 65 (or January 1, 1997, for those already eligible before 1997). The change requires voter approval via a ballot measure.
HB 3698 creates the Student Eviction Assistance Revolving Fund within Oklahoma's State Department of Education to address housing instability affecting students. The fund provides legal representation for low-income families (indigent tenants) with children enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade facing eviction (forcible entry/detainer cases), with referrals required through their school district. Funding comes from state appropriations, federal grants, and donations, and is allocated across all 77 counties based on poverty rates and chronic absenteeism data. The bill mandates annual audits of legal service organizations, requires detailed expenditure reports to state leaders, and takes effect November 1, 2026.
