SB 274: Landlord and tenant; requiring criminal history screening policy for award of certain tax credit; establishing procedures for certain screening policies. Effective date. - Oklahoma

SB274 (3-13-25) (RADER) FS FA1.PDF → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version changed from a floor substitute to a committee substitute, updating the bill's title and effective date. The most significant change is moving the effective date from April 29, 2019 to November 1, 2025, which delays when the new criminal history screening requirements for affordable housing tax credits take effect. The substantive policy content regarding landlord-tenant screening policies remains largely unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same - it governs criminal history screening policies for landlords receiving affordable housing tax credits - but the effective date was moved forward by over six years.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from April 29, 2019 to November 1, 2025, significantly delaying when the new screening policy requirements apply to lease transactions.

TECHNICAL

Bill title changed from 'FLOOR SUBSTITUTE' to 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' and updated header information to reflect Senate Floor Version dated February 11, 2025.

Removed references to House sponsor West (Tammy) and updated legislative session information from 1st Session of 60th Legislature (2025) to February 11, 2025 date.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection E requiring criminal history screening policies for awards beginning on or after January 1, 2026, with specific requirements for individualized reviews and prohibited blanket denial statements.

Committee Substitute → SB274 (3-13-25) (RADER) FS FA1.PDF · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was changed from a Committee Substitute to a Floor Substitute version, with substantive amendments to the criminal history screening policy for affordable housing. Key changes include adding an exception for applicants convicted of offenses listed in Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes (sexual offenses), renumbering subsections, and updating the effective date to November 1, 2025. The page numbering and tracking numbers were also updated to reflect the new version.

Scope change

The scope of the screening policy was narrowed by adding an exception that allows denial without individualized review for certain sexual offenses listed in Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, while maintaining individualized review requirements for other felony convictions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exception in subsection H allowing owners to deny housing without individualized review for applicants convicted of offenses listed in Section 13.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes (sexual offenses).

REQUIREMENT

Renumbered subsections E through G to F through H, reorganizing the structure of the screening policy requirements.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the act from April 29, 2019 to November 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Changed document title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'Floor Substitute' and updated page tracking numbers from 1613 to 1854.

Introduced → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduced version to a committee substitute version, primarily updating the effective date and adding guidance requirements for the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. The substantive policy content regarding felony conviction screening for housing remains largely unchanged.

Scope change

The effective date was changed from April 29, 2019 to November 1, 2025, and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency was added a new requirement to provide guidance to property owners on creating compliant screening policies.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from April 29, 2019 to November 1, 2025, delaying when the new screening requirements become enforceable.

REQUIREMENT

The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency was given a new duty to provide guidance to property owners on creating policies and practices that comply with the screening requirements.

TECHNICAL

The document header was changed from 'AS INTRODUCED' to 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' and the page numbering and request numbers were updated to reflect the new version.

The original 'AS INTRODUCED' header and associated page numbering (Req. No. 454) were removed in favor of the committee substitute version (Req. No. 1613).

Landlord and tenant; requiring criminal history screening policy for award of certain tax credit; establishing procedures for certain screening policies. Effective date.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors