Gov. Stitt vetoes bipartisan bill extending eviction notice period

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed Senate Bill 128, a bipartisan measure that would have extended the timeline for tenants facing eviction, allowing them more time to secure legal representation, arrange child care, or gather overdue rent. The bill, authored by Senator Julia Kirt and Representative Daniel Pae, aimed to improve housing stability and fairness in the state's eviction process, which advocates say currently has one of the shortest timelines in the nation. Stitt argued that the existing procedures already provide adequate due process and that extending wait times would place a greater burden on landlords, potentially discouraging them from renting to low-income tenants. Supporters of the bill, including Kirt and Pae, described it as a commonsense measure to prevent families from losing their homes, while Stitt maintained it could have unintended negative consequences for affordable housing. The legislation passed both chambers with bipartisan support but not by a wide enough margin to make a veto override likely. Kirt indicated that discussions on tenant protections in Oklahoma are expected to continue in the future.