OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed a bill that sought to modify Oklahoma’s eviction timeline and give tenants more time to pay their debt.
Senate Bill 128, written by Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, sought to add five days to the length of time from the eviction summons delivery date to the eviction hearing date.
The bill also stated that a summons must be served at least seven days, instead of three days, before the trial day of the trial.
Stitt vetoed the bill last week. His statement for vetoing the bill is as follows:
“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. 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.”
SB 128 passed the Oklahoma Senate with a 26-19 vote, and passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives with a 51-35 vote.
Kirt previously described the bill as respecting landlords’ property rights as well as Oklahoma families’ housing needs.
“The majority of people facing eviction have children in the home,” Kirt said. “This is reasonable legislation that takes into account both the property rights of landlords and the importance of Oklahoma families to have stable housing. I want to thank Representative Pae for his hard work on SB 128, and the House members who supported this measure as well.”
The eviction timeline changes would have given tenants more notice and time to resolve their debts.
Kansas and Missouri enacted eviction laws with similar timeframes, according to Pae.
“By giving tenants a few more days of notice, we’re creating a more balanced process that can help prevent families from falling through the cracks,” Pae previously said. “I appreciate Senator Kirt’s leadership on this issue, and I’m proud to support this commonsense reform.”
