Sen. Julia Kirt proposes legislation for extended eviction timelines in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Sen. Julia Kirt has filed legislation that is aimed at 'giving people more time to come up with rent money or find a new place to live.'
Oklahoma is reported to have one of the shortest eviction timelines in the United States, and the majority of those facing homelessness are said to be families with children.
Senate Bill 1575 would extend the window for setting an eviction trial to 10 business days and extend the timeline for notice of a trial to a week.
"Giving tenants a little more time to figure out their next step, whether that is coming up with their rent money or another place to live, can help reduce homelessness, and that's better for families, taxpayers, and our economy," Kirt said.
Kirt has said that one of the root causes of homelessness is eviction, and Oklahoma City and Tulsa have some of the highest rates of eviction in the country, ranked 20th and 11th, respectively.
Kirt furthered and said the 'resulting instability from homelessness can make it more difficult for adults to keep their jobs and can undermine their children's ability to stay in and do well in school.'
"A process that can take weeks in other states is just days in Oklahoma and can result in families ending up on the streets - something we saw playing out in some 300 families facing eviction the week of Christmas in Oklahoma County," Kirt said. "Homelessness also increased reliance on programs funded by taxpayers and nonprofits. We're not giving tenants a free pass but giving them just a few more days can result in a better outcome for all the stakeholders."
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