SB 1997 exempts certain business-owned property from Oklahoma's ad valorem property taxes. It specifically applies to businesses operating rental housing (requiring 75% annual occupancy) or continuum of care retirement communities (licensed, nonprofit, and IRS 501(c)(3) qualified). Property owners must annually report occupancy rates to the county assessor to maintain the exemption. This bill directly affects businesses owning multi-family housing or senior living facilities that meet these specific criteria.
HB 3386 modifies Oklahoma's landlord-tenant law by requiring court-supervised mediation before a landlord can terminate a lease due to unpaid rent when minor children reside in the rental unit. For all other tenants without minor children, landlords may still terminate leases after a 5-day grace period following written notice of unpaid rent. The bill amends Section 131 of Title 41 O.S. 2021 and becomes effective November 1, 2026, directly affecting landlords and tenants in households with minor children facing rent delinquency.
HB 3388 makes it illegal for landlords to advertise a rental property as having "all bills paid" (including utilities like water, sewer, gas, electricity, and trash) but then charge tenants extra for those utilities after signing a lease. This law directly affects landlords who misrepresent rental costs and tenants who could be misled by such advertising. It defines "bills" as basic utilities required for habitability and prohibits the practice as a deceptive trade practice under Oklahoma's Consumer Protection Act. Violators face existing penalties under that law, and the bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3389 limits how landlords in Oklahoma can charge for pets. Landlords may charge either a refundable deposit covering actual pet damage (which must be returned if no damage occurs) or a nonrefundable one-time fee for having a pet, but cannot charge both or impose recurring "pet rent" fees. The law directly affects renters with pets and landlords, prohibiting ongoing monthly charges for pet ownership. It takes effect November 1, 2026, and aims to prevent excessive or recurring pet-related fees.
HB 2091 creates a refundable state income tax credit for Oklahoma residents who pay rent for their primary residence. Starting in 2026, eligible taxpayers can claim up to $110 annually, with future credit amounts adjusted yearly based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. To claim the credit, individuals must provide their landlord's name, rental address, and annual rent paid on a form required by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The credit applies to all qualifying renters, not just low-income households, and becomes effective November 1, 2025.
HB 2015 (Oklahoma) clarifies tenant rights when landlords fail to meet rental agreement terms or health/safety standards. It requires tenants to provide landlords with written notice of issues, giving them 14 days to fix problems before tenants can take action. If landlords don’t act, tenants may legally withhold rent (up to one month’s cost for repairs), deduct repair costs from rent, or terminate the lease for uninhabitable conditions. The bill also prohibits landlords from pursuing eviction for nonpayment while tenants use these remedies, effective November 1, 2025.
SB 149 (Oklahoma) protects tenants from landlord retaliation for reporting rental issues. It prohibits landlords from evicting tenants, raising rent, or reducing services for 180 days after a tenant files a complaint about unsafe conditions, reports bed bugs, requests repairs, or participates in a code enforcement inspection. Landlords who violate this face fines of $100-$2,000 per violation plus legal costs. The bill also requires large Oklahoma municipalities to publish online lists of rental property code violations, including owner names and penalties. It takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 262 creates the Oklahoma Rental Assistance Grant Program to provide rental subsidies to Oklahomans evicted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, the program will be funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury using legislative appropriations, federal funds, and private donations. The revolving fund operates continuously without fiscal year limits, allowing the agency to use these resources for eligible rental assistance. The program becomes effective July 1, 2025.
SB 101 creates an income tax credit for Oklahoma residents paying rent or mortgage on their primary residence. It provides refundable credits ranging from $1,000 to $7,000 based on household income (as a percentage of Oklahoma's state median income) and the number of dependents. The credit applies to tax years starting in 2026, with limits of one credit per residence and refunding excess amounts if the credit exceeds the tax owed. This directly benefits low-to-moderate-income Oklahoma households struggling with housing costs. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
This Oklahoma bill creates a tax credit program to encourage converting old, vacant buildings into housing. Property owners can claim up to 50% of qualified costs (like environmental cleanup, code upgrades, or system repairs) for adaptive reuse projects on structures at least 30 years old that have been vacant or underutilized (with rent below 50% of market rate). The program has a $5 million annual cap on approved credits, with unused funds carried forward to future years. Credits cannot reduce tax liability below zero but may be carried forward for up to 10 years. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Tax Commission will administer the program and prioritize projects based on local housing needs.
