Latest news with #SB128
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt vetoes bill that would extend Oklahoma eviction timeline
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Monday, Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed an Oklahoma Senate bill that would've extended the timeline for Oklahomans facing eviction. Senate Bill 128, a bipartisan bill authored by Senator Democratic Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) and Representative Daniel Pae (R-Lawton), would have extended the period between the eviction trial notice and court date from 5-10 days to 10-15 days. Kirt said the purpose of the bill was to give Oklahomans facing eviction more time to seek legal representation or catch up on their unpaid rent and keep their housing. SB 128 passed both the House and the Senate in April, but Stitt decided to veto the bill. 'This bill seeks to expand minimum wait times in eviction proceedings, making the already burdensome and difficult process of obtaining an eviction that much more burdensome,' reads Stitt's veto message. 'The existing procedures already provide adequate due process and notice. This bill would also do the opposite as intended. Instead of assisting renters in arrears, it would incentivize landlords to specifically not rent housing units to low-income households, for risk of greater eviction costs. We cannot overcome economic realities with good intentions.' Oklahoma lawmakers work across the aisle to address high eviction rates, Gov. vetoes bill News 4 reached out to Oklahoma Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) for her reaction following the veto. 'I am disappointed by the Governor's veto,' Kirt said. 'This bipartisan bill would have improved our eviction process and increased housing stability across the state. This was the only bill still active addressing housing, which is one of the biggest challenges Oklahoma families face.' Kirt also said she has started conversations with leadership about a potential veto override, but a veto override would be very challenging, considering how close the original vote was to send the bill to the governor's desk. SB 128 passed the Senate with a vote of 26 to 19 and the House with a vote of 51-35. Two-thirds of the House and the Senate would need to approve a veto override to pass the bill into law. The Oklahoma Policy Institute released a statement on Tuesday, also expressing disappointment in the veto. Gov. Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 128 is more than a missed opportunity — it's a step backward for housing stability in Oklahoma. This bipartisan bill would have added just five days to the eviction trial timeline and increased the notice period from three to seven days. Five days could mean the difference between a family staying housed or landing in a shelter. The governor's veto demonstrates that he cares more for corporate landlords' interests than the needs of everyday Oklahomans who struggle to keep their families safely housed. Right now, large corporate landlords and bad actors can exploit Oklahoma's eviction laws to extract extra revenue from their tenants. Under the current system, landlords are able to bounce tenants on the street in under two weeks. This is almost no time to pay back rent, no time to ask off work and find child care, and no time to find a lawyer or prepare for court. And, as housing costs rise faster than wages, more families are falling behind. SB 128 wouldn't have stopped evictions—it just would have slowed the clock. That's not radical. That's meeting the needs of everyday Oklahomans. Sabine Brown, Housing Senior Policy Analyst for the Oklahoma Policy Institute Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Oklahoma City.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 22-24, 2025
Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, (left) hands out Holocaust remembrance ribbons on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on April 22, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle (background) pins a ribbon to his jacket with Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan (right). (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House HB 375, sponsored by Rep. Kelvin Datcher, D-Birmingham, establishes a $37.50 fee for a five year pistol permit in Jefferson County. The bill passed 17-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 494, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, sets the base salaries of Jefferson County's tax assessor and related officials by tying them to 110% of the highest-paid merit system employees in their office, effective October 2027. The bill passed 23-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 510, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, updates Lawrence County's temporary release program by adjusting surplus fund reporting, changing the timing for distributing appearance bond fees and modifying when municipalities can opt into the program. The bill passed 6-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 570, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Paramore, R-Troy, updates Pike County's pistol permit fees to $20 for a one-year permit and $100 for a five-year permit and provides for distribution to the Pike County Sheriff.. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 571, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, updates Escambia County's cigarette and beer tax administration by allowing the county to hire inspectors with a monthly expense cap of $500. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 572, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, authorizes the Escambia County Commission to impose an additional motor vehicle license and registration fee of up to $5 per transaction. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 573, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, mandates that candidates for Escambia County sheriff who have retired from active law enforcement have three or more years of full-time post-retirement law enforcement service. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 574, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kirkland, R-Scottsboro, sets the Jackson County probate judge's salary at $132,000 annually starting Oct. 1. The bill passed 9-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 576, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kirkland, R-Scottsboro, authorizes the Jackson County Sheriff to use credit and debit cards for approved purchases. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 128, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, increases the Calhoun County sheriff's compensation by providing a $13,966 annual expense allowance starting June 1, and establishing a base annual salary of $114,290 in 2027, at which point the expense allowance would expire. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 487, sponsored by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, expands the G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program by lowering the minimum disability rating for veterans from 40% to 20%, and establishing a pilot program to admit an additional 100 dependents annually. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 479, sponsored by Rep. Brian Brinyark, R-Wyndham Springs, amends voter registration procedures by removing the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as a verification database, requiring the use of the Alabama Voter Integrity Database for address change identification, mandating that voters respond within 90 days to address change notices or risk being marked inactive. The bill passed 74-28. It goes to the Senate. HB 454, sponsored by Rep. Steve Hurst, R-Munford, makes it a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000, for an individual to forge sponsorship on local legislation. The bill passed 93-1. It goes to the Senate. HB 542, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, expands retirement benefits for full-time district attorneys, prosecutors, and attorneys employed by the Office of Prosecution Services. The bill passed 95-1. It goes to the Senate. HB 283, sponsored by Rep. Mike Shaw, R-Hoover, establishes comprehensive data privacy regulations, granting consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of the processing of their personal data, and empowering the attorney general to enforce compliance. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 273, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Act, administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, to designate qualified public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education as hunger-free campuses. The bill passed 96-2. It goes to the Senate. HB 176, sponsored by Rep. Mark Shirey, R-Mobile, exempts the sales and use tax on the sale of optical aids, including eyeglasses and contact lenses. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 472, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, increases the state employee meal allowance from 15% to 17.5% of the regular per diem rate for trips lasting 6 to 12 hours. The bill passed 98-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 471, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, removes the prohibition on state or local officers serving on the board of directors of local water, sewer, or fire protection authorities. The bill passed 84-4. It goes to the Senate. HB 441, sponsored by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, establishes minimum educational and clinical requirements for speech-language pathology assistants. The bill passed 82-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 521, sponsored by Rep. Craig Lipscomb, R-Gadsden, introduces a new category of low-alcohol mixed spirit beverages (up to 7% ABV), establishes licensing and distribution requirements for wholesalers and retailers, imposes an excise tax on distribution, and mandates exclusive sales territory agreements. The bill passed 68-25. It goes to the Senate. Senate SB 262, sponsored by Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, would allow betting on previously broadcast races and live horse and dog racing would be permitted under specific rules in White Hall in Lowndes County. The bill passed 18-7. It goes to the House. SB 319, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, would establish a $25 civil case filing fee in Barbour County; a $25 conviction fee in the county and a $10 small claims court filing fee in Barbour. Voters would have to approve the fees in a referendum. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 326, sponsored by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, would allow the Jackson County sheriff to establish procedures for using a credit card or debit card to make purchases. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 328, sponsored by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, would establish a $132,000 annual salary for the Jackson County probate judge effective October 1 and entitle the judge to future cost-of-living increases for all county employees. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 327, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, would change the boundary lines and corporate limits of Saint Florian in Lauderdale County. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 329, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn, would allow the Lee County revenue commissioner, instead of the probate judge, to take action to reclaim land for taxes in the county. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 301, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn, would allow business property tax returns to be filed electronically. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 322, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, would allow certain private residential developments to be annexed by a municipality if they are petitioned by the municipality and approved by the municipality's governing body. The bill passed 27-1. It goes to the House. SB 278, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, would mandate that school districts establish procedures for students to attend religious classes off-site for elective credit if conditions are met. The bill passed 25-6. It goes to the House. House HB 583, sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, sets the annual salary of a newly-elected Madison County sheriff at $170,000, with 7.5% raises for each consecutive term. The bill passed 23-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 585, sponsored by Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, would end a supplemental payment equal to 2% of the annual state compensation for circuit clerks to Washington County's circuit clerk when the current clerk leaves office. The bill passed 8-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 586, sponsored by Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, extends the corporate limits of the City of Cullman in Cullman County, Alabama. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 591, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, extends Henry County's 4% lodging tax to transients in RV parks. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 592, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, abolishes the Southeast Alabama Human Development Council in Henry County and transfers its duties to the Alabama Department of Youth Services. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 595, sponsored by Rep. Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Roads, removes a specified area from the corporate limits of the City of New Hope in Madison County. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 601, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, creates a single Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund for Escambia County to consolidate various revenue sources and allocate them to law enforcement and public safety. The bill passed 9-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 293, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, allows the Lee County Commission to exempt households making 75% or less of the poverty line from solid waste collection fees. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 314, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Riverside, authorizes the Shelby County Commission to levy a $2 annual motor vehicle license and registration fee. The bill passed 10-3. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 113, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is the $524 million 2025 supplemental appropriation for the Education Trust Fund budget. The bill passed 103-0 with a House committee substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 114, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is the $1.25 billion supplemental appropriation for the Advancement and Technology budget.. The bill passed 102-0 with a House committee substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 305, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, allows the Legislature to appropriate additional funds to schools based on student needs. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 111, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, appropriates $375 million over three years for a student funding formula change, which aims to get more money to students with particular needs, including children in poverty and English Language Learners. The bill passed 103-0 with a House committee substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 303, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, revises the definition used to determine eligibility of principals and assistant principals to receive annual stipends under the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act.. The bill passed 98-2. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, allocates $9.9 billion for K-12 schools and higher education, a 6% increase over the current budget. The bill passed 103-0 with a House committee substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 150, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Riverside, appropriates $1.3 million from the Education Trust Fund to Talladega College for fiscal year 2026. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Ivey. SB 109, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, appropriates $15.8 million from the Education Trust Fund to Tuskegee University for fiscal year 2026. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 122, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn, appropriates $450,000 from the Education Trust Fund to Southern Preparatory Academy in Camp Hill for fiscal year 2026. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 379, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, introduces a tax exemption for nonresidents who work in Alabama for 30 days or fewer within a calendar year. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 128, sponsored by Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, extends the existence of the Board of Nursing until Oct. 1, 2029, and revises its membership structure to ensure representation from each congressional district. The House concurred with Senate changes 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 123, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, extends the existence of the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy until October 1, 2026. The House nonconcurred with Senate changes 99-0, sending the bill to conference committee. HB 191, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, establishes conditions under which county or municipal sales and use tax exemptions may be enacted. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 250, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, revises the filing requirements for statements of economic interests by candidates, specifying deadlines for submission based on candidacy status, and establishing penalties for non-compliance. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 200, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, revises the Alabama Business and Nonprofit Entity Code to make technical corrections, update references, and formalize practices related to electronic filing and name reservations. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 456, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, authorizes the Clarke County Sheriff to charge 'reasonable fees' for specific services, such as fingerprinting, reports, records copies, photo IDs, funeral duties, and court-ordered ankle monitors. The House concurred with Senate changes 83-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 258, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham, changes the date of primary elections in non-presidential election years from the fourth Tuesday in May to the Tuesday before Memorial Day. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Ivey. Senate SB 331, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, sets the Barbour County probate judge's salary effective October 1 to 70% of the salary paid to a state district court judge with equivalent years of service and provide for increases. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House. SB 308, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, would update the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Lee County engineer and the county commission. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House. SB 256, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, would allow a Class 2 municipality to enter property with a tax lien certificate to make repairs. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 330, sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, would require the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) to convert into regional boards and establish new rules for board member appointments, qualifications and terms. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 304, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would create the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank, as a division of the State Industrial Development Authority, to select and assist in the financing of energy infrastructure projects. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 313, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, would establish the Alabama 21st Century Fund and allow funds not needed to pay debt service on bonds of the authority to be used for any authorized purpose of the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 311, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, would modify the process for obtaining permits for access to state rights-of-way on public highways. The bill passed 29-1. It goes to the House. SB 317, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would establish staggered terms for the Alabama Innovation Corporation's board of directors. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 248, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would change how courts review decisions made by government agencies and require judges to independently interpret laws instead of accepting the agency's interpretation. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 324, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, would increase the number of members on the Board of Pardons and Paroles and update the procedure for selecting the chair of the board. The bill passed 16-8. It goes to the House. SB 315, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would allow Alabama 21st Century Fund revenues to be used to pay project costs and debt service on bonds issued by the State Industrial Development Authority. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 279, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, gives the Alabama Legislature permission to tear down the current building after relocating to the new Statehouse. The bill passed 26-0. It goes to the House. SB 236, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would update the executive committee member requirements of regional mental health authority boards. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 51, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would set requirements on health insurance reimbursement rates for ambulance services. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 253, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, would allow the Board of Nursing's Executive Director to assign someone to carry out specific duties, powers, and functions of the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board on their behalf. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. HB 253, sponsored by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville, would exempt the gross receipts from the sale of certain aircraft and aircraft parts from state sales and use tax. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 117, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would allow certain municipalities to enter memoranda of understanding with sheriffs for traffic enforcement. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 271, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit municipalities from imposing certain fees on natural or manufactured gas utilities for public use. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 321, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would remove a provision in the Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Advisory Board regulations restricting the Alabama Department of Environmental Management from involving other governmental entities in contamination issues. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 233, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, would increase the Alabama Ad Valorem Advisory Committee membership to include two resident taxpayers, who would be appointed by the commission. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 241, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, would create a database that contains information on people suspected of belonging to a criminal enterprise or gang. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. 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Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers work across the aisle to address high eviction rates
KFOR and KGOU partnered for this report as part of a collaborative project under the Oklahoma Media Center. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR/KGOU) — Last month, Oklahoma State Senator Julia Kirt's Senate Bill 128 was heard on the Senate Floor. Currently, Oklahoma law requires a minimum of five days between an eviction trial notice being given to a tenant and the court date. This bill would increase the minimum to 10 days — which is the current maximum — and increase the maximum to 15 days. SB128 passed on the Senate Floor with a vote of 26 to 19. Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said extending the timeline could help both tenants and landlords. 'If someone gets noticed five days ahead that they're being evicted, three days ahead of what their actual date is, they can't get legal assistance,' Kirt said. 'What folks have found nationwide is if you give people a few more days to catch up, you are more likely to keep them in the property and they're more likely to pay you the back rent. And that's less time that landlord goes without having someone in that property,' she said. This isn't the first time Senator Kirt has attempted to extend the eviction timeline. A bill she filed last legislative session, Senate Bill 1575, proposed extending the timeline to a maximum of 20 days between an eviction trial notice and a court date — twice the current maximum. Kirt said that bill was met with some concern. 'Primarily, people are concerned about property rights and making sure that owners have the right to take their property back,' Kirt said. 'Last year, I filed the bill with a longer additional timeline, and I really compromised it down. That meant that the apartment association that had opposed the bill went neutral on it, because they felt like it was not going to change the eviction practices of most landlords,' Kirt said. Senator Kirt is a Democrat, and all 19 of the senators who voted against SB 128 were Republican. Despite this, there has been some bipartisan effort to extend the eviction timeline. Representative Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, is the House author for SB 128, and was the House author for SB 1575 as well. 'We don't have anywhere else to go': OU Motel closure adds to metro's affordable housing shortage 'I'm really glad to have Representative Pae as the House author. He's a Republican, he is in committee leadership. He also represents a community that has a very high eviction rate — Lawton,' Kirt said. Kirt and Pae represent two of the counties that have some of the highest eviction filing rates in the state—Oklahoma County and Comanche County, respectively. From March 2024 to February 2025, Oklahoma County had a higher eviction filing rate than any other county in the state at about 13.7%, according to data from the Legal Services Corporation. That means almost 14 out of every 100 renter households in the county were served with an eviction notice within that time frame. Oklahoma County had 1,200 eviction filings in the month of February alone. While Comanche County only had 104 filings in February, a seemingly small number considering the number of filings in Oklahoma County, U.S. Census data shows their population at around 121,400 is only about an eighth of Oklahoma County's 816,490. Because of this, Comanche County has the fourth-highest eviction filing rate in Oklahoma at 10.8%. Tulsa County (12.2%) and Cleveland County (11.4%) hold the second and third spots for highest filing rate. Representative Pae said the bill has garnered bipartisan support because some Republican lawmakers, like himself, see housing not just as a social issue but as an economic issue. 'This issue of housing has broad implications for our overall economy. Anytime there's a prospective employer who's wanting to come to the state of Oklahoma, they ask about the quality of our schools, of our access to health care, and the affordability of our houses,' Pae said. In terms of housing affordability in Comanche County, where Pae's constituents live, about 42.6% of renters are considered rent-burdened residents—meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities. 17.7% of Comanche County residents are also living in poverty, which is above the national poverty rate of 11.1% measured in 2023. The U.S. Census Bureau defines the poverty line as 'the minimum level of resources that are adequate to meet basic needs,' which includes food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and telecommunications. Those who cannot afford these basic needs are said to be living in poverty. In Kirt's district, Oklahoma County has a higher percentage of rent-burdened residents than Comanche County at 48.6%, but a slightly lower poverty rate at 15.7%. Megan Staughn, a tenant organizer in Norman, said while the extension would be a marked improvement, it would only scratch the surface of what tenants facing eviction need. Norman City Council, nonprofits seek new location for homeless shelter 'Moving the eviction notice from five to 10 days, that's double. That's wonderful. And 10 days is not very long. If you have multiple kids and a job, getting to court is a huge problem. So, I'm ecstatic to get that number of days moved up and we need so much more,' Straughn said. Beyond extending the eviction timeline, Straughn said one of the best ways Oklahoma lawmakers could help tenants is to protect them from retaliation. 'In Oklahoma, it is legal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for voicing their concerns about housing. Any sort of organizing action you take, you have to assess the risks that might occur to tenants. And that risk is homelessness,' she said. While trying to balance supporting tenants and respecting landlords' property rights, Senator Kirt said the impact eviction can have on a person — and oftentimes, a whole family — can last a lifetime. 'Eviction is not only because people might be living in poverty, but it also can cause poverty because trying to recover from an eviction is very hard and people miss work,' Kirt said. 'So I think we see ripple effects of that, and it's not just a one-time court appearance. We're talking about something that has ongoing economic challenges.' SB 128 has already passed through two House committees. To have a chance at reaching Governor Kevin Stitt's desk, it must pass on the House floor by May 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
