Lawton, OK– In an effort to address the state’s high eviction rates and protect tenants’ rights, Oklahoma Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt has introduced two bills for the 2025 legislative session aimed at reforming the state’s eviction laws.
Oklahoma currently ranks sixth in the nation for evictions, a statistic that Kirt argues directly impacts the stability of families. “When families lose their housing, they also lose stability, including their jobs and their children’s school success,” Kirt said in a statement released Friday. “By modernizing our statutes, we can make sure laws meet the needs of property owners while also protecting the rights of tenants. We need to align our laws with the best practices that good landlords already follow.”
Kirt’s proposed legislation, Senate Bill 815 and Senate Bill 128, aims to make significant changes to the eviction process. Senate Bill 815, in particular, would seal eviction records under certain conditions. If an eviction case is dismissed or ruled in favor of the defendant, the record would be sealed immediately. In other cases, eviction records would be sealed two years after the judgment date.
Currently, an eviction record remains accessible indefinitely, which can make it difficult for tenants to secure future housing, even if they were not at fault or the eviction case was dismissed. By sealing these records, Kirt believes tenants will have a better chance at rebuilding their lives without facing undue barriers in finding a new home.
Senate Bill 128 proposes to give tenants more notice of eviction hearings. Under the current law, tenants may not always have enough time to prepare a defense or seek assistance. The bill would ensure that tenants are given adequate time to understand and address the eviction proceedings.
Kirt emphasized that while the bills aim to protect tenants, they also seek to balance the interests of landlords. “We want to create a system that works for everyone,” she said. “These changes will provide more fairness and transparency in the eviction process.”
The legislation comes as part of Kirt’s broader efforts to address housing instability in Oklahoma. By addressing both eviction records and the notice period for hearings, the bills are expected to help reduce the long-term effects of eviction on families and improve housing access for vulnerable populations in the state.
