Housing

SB 347 amends Oklahoma law (11 O.S. 2021, Section 43-103) to prohibit cities and towns from implementing minimum parking requirements when adopting regulations for buildings, land, or districts. The bill updates the statutory framework governing municipal planning, which previously allowed such parking mandates, and specifies that governing bodies cannot enforce these requirements while following the section's eight stated objectives (e.g., traffic safety, health, historical preservation). This change directly affects local governments' ability to regulate parking in zoning and development decisions. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

HB 2410 increases Oklahoma's annual cap for affordable housing tax credits from $4 million to $10 million per year through December 2029, then reverts to $4 million annually after 2029. It directly affects developers of qualifying affordable housing projects and investors who claim tax credits for these projects. The bill ties Oklahoma's tax credits to federal low-income housing credits, limits credits to projects placed in service after July 2015, and requires eligibility statements from the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency to claim credits. Credits cannot reduce tax liability below zero and must be claimed with tax returns, with unused credits carryable forward for two years.

HB 2745 creates new tax deductions for Oklahoma banks and credit unions that earn interest on qualifying agricultural and housing loans. It allows institutions to deduct up to $500,000 annually (for those with over $750 million in Oklahoma deposits) or $250,000 (for smaller institutions) from their privilege tax bill. The deductions apply to interest earned on agricultural real estate loans, agricultural operating loans, and single-family residence loans made between 2025 and 2028. Total deductions across all institutions are capped at $5 million per year, with annual adjustments to maintain this limit.

HJR 1001 proposes a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma's property tax system. It would eliminate the income requirement for seniors aged 65+ who own and occupy their homes, while maintaining other conditions: the home's property tax value must be $500,000 or less, and the owner must have lived there for 10 years (allowing up to 365 days away in a decade). The amendment keeps existing rules requiring age, occupancy, and the $500,000 value cap, but removes the need to meet income thresholds based on HUD's county median. This change would apply only to homesteads subject to the current tax limitations.

SB 144 creates a five-year pilot program for Oklahoma's Department of Corrections to help formerly incarcerated people find stable housing and access reentry services. It requires the DOC to develop affordable housing in rural and urban areas, identify high-risk inmates for homelessness, and modify existing programs to provide parenting, job skills, and substance abuse treatment support. The program will be funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, using state appropriations, grants, and donations, with up to 5% of funds allowed for administrative costs. The DOC must contract an independent evaluator to assess the program's effectiveness in reducing recidivism and submit annual reports to lawmakers. This bill directly affects inmates released from Oklahoma prisons who face housing instability upon release.