Sen. Kirt Proposes Fair Housing Legislation
Sen. Kirt Proposes Legislation to Reform Oklahoma's Eviction Process
By Miami News-Digest
OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 24, 2025) — Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt has introduced two bills designed to modernize Oklahoma’s eviction statutes, aiming to provide fairer housing practices and protect tenant rights.
“Oklahoma is sixth in the nation for evictions. When families lose their housing, they also can lose stability like their jobs and their children’s school success,” said Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. “By modernizing our statutes, we can make sure laws meet the needs of property owners while protecting the rights of tenants. We need to align our laws with the best practices good landlords already follow.”
Key Provisions of the Legislation:
- Senate Bill 815: Requires eviction records to be sealed immediately if the case is dismissed or ruled in favor of the tenant. In other cases, records would be sealed two years after the judgment date.
- Senate Bill 128: Extends the summons timeline, giving tenants more time to resolve overdue rent and avoid eviction.
According to data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, Oklahoma has one of the highest eviction rates in the country, with Tulsa and Oklahoma City among the most affected. Kirt emphasized the long-term impact of eviction records:
“An eviction case stays on the public record and can make it nearly impossible for that person to find housing in the future, even if it was resolved in their favor or they’ve been able to get back on their feet financially. These bills could be real solutions for more Oklahomans to build prosperous futures.”
The proposed reforms aim to balance the interests of tenants and landlords while ensuring that eviction laws reflect modern best practices.
For more information, contact Sen. Julia Kirt at Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov or 405-521-5636.
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