Sen. Kirt’s legislation addressing Oklahoma’s eviction timeline advances

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt has won unanimous committee approval for legislation modernizing Oklahoma’s eviction statutes. Senate Bill 128, which was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, would give people more notice of eviction hearings. Kirt said Oklahoma is sixth in the nation for evictions, and has one of the shortest timelines in the country. 

“When facing eviction, a few more days can help families make arrangements to catch up on their rent or find new housing.” said Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. “By updating our laws, we can line up the eviction schedule with the best practices fair landlords already follow.” 

SB 128 would extend the summons timeline from five to ten days, giving tenants a better chance to resolve their back rent instead of losing their home.  

 “It’s important to remember that the majority of people who face eviction in our state have children in the home. Having the stability of a home is essential for Oklahomans who want to build better lives for themselves and their families,” Kirt said. “I am grateful to the business, local government, and state leaders who have joined together to agree we need to improve our evictions laws to make them better for our whole community.” 

Kirt’s legislation is now available to be heard by the full Senate. 

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Julia Kirt at 405-521-5636 or Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov