One bill would allow residents to ask cities for compensation and sue for adopting rules not to enforce anti-camping and loitering laws. Another looks to improve the state’s chronic student absenteeism, with other bills aiming to create protections for Oklahoma renters and unhoused individuals.
The Frontier reviewed bills filed at the Oklahoma Legislature for notable measures that could impact housing, evictions and homelessness across the state. The 2026 legislative session starts Monday. Here’s a rundown of the bills:
Senate Bill 1205
Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, has introduced Senate Bill 1205 to create the “Oklahoma Safe Neighborhoods Act of 2026.” If passed, the measure would allow property owners and some tenants in cities larger than 130,000 people to seek compensation if the local government adopts rules not to enforce laws prohibiting camping, loitering and panhandling, among others.
Read the full measure here.
Senate Bill 1235
Senate Bill 1235, coauthored by Republican lawmakers Sen. Dave Rader and Rep. Mark Tedford, both from Tulsa, would ban cities from seizing personal property on public land unless there’s a reasonable belief that the property is abandoned or poses an immediate threat to public health or safety.
The bill would require cities to post a written notice near abandoned property stating it will be seized within 48 hours. The notice must also include instructions for where the property would be kept and how the owner could reclaim it.
Cities wouldn’t be able to dispose of birth certificates, personal identification or prescription medications.
Read the full measure here.
Senate Bill 1545
Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, has proposed a measure to create the “Yes In God’s Backyard Act,” which would make it easier for faith-based organizations to apply to develop affordable housing on their property. The goal is “to address housing shortages and enhance affordability of housing,” the measure states.
Read the full measure here.
House Bill 3698
To help schools address chronic absenteeism linked to unstable housing, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, has introduced House Bill 3698 to create a “Student Eviction Assistance Revolving Fund.” The continuing fund would use Oklahoma State Department of Education money to provide legal representation in eviction cases for low-income tenants with children enrolled in an Oklahoma public or private school. To qualify for representation, the district where the student is enrolled has to refer the renter to the legal services organization.
Read the full measure here.
House Bill 3386
Similarly, Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, has introduced House Bill 3386 to require court-supervised mediation for any cases of past-due rent involving minor children before a landlord could evict them. Current state law allows landlords to file an eviction against a tenant within five days after the tenant fails to pay rent.
Read the full measure here.
Republished under Creative Commons license from The Frontier, a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org.
Free Press publishes this report as a collaborative effort to provide the best coverage of state issues that affect our readers.
Maddy Keyes is a reporter for The Frontier, a Tulsa, Oklahoma nonprofit newsroom that reports news from across the state. She may be reached at: maddy@readfrontier.com
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