House Bill 1564 bill would worsen Oklahoma’s current eviction crisis, do nothing to assist landlords, and put public health at risk now and in the future. It is an attempt to evade the tenant protections enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it would have devastating public health consequences as evictions are tied to increasing rates of infection and death due to COVID-19. The bill is scheduled to be heard this week.
Please contact your Representative today and ask them to VOTE NO ON HB 1564. If you don’t know your Representative, use this Find My Legislator tool.
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HB 1564 would allow predatory late fees. Landlords would be able to charge up to 15% late fees each month a tenant is late, more than doubling what Oklahoma courts have determined is reasonable.
- When other states have capped late fees, it is often at 5% or 8%.
- Out-of-state property owners with no real ties to Oklahoma or its communities frequently use late fees to advance their bottom line through repeated eviction filings rather than for legitimate property management reasons.
HB 1564 would allow sheriffs to immediately force families from their homes. The bill would take away a judge’s ability to set a reasonable amount of time to vacate the rental property upon eviction.
- Oklahoma’s eviction process is already one of the fastest in the country. Tenants must only receive 3 days’ notice of an eviction hearing and only 48 hours after the hearing to vacate the property if they are ordered to leave.
- Under HB 1564, judges could not give extra time to move out to tenants who are elderly, have disabilities, or are survivors of domestic violence.
Your voice is vital in helping lawmakers know your position. Please contact your Representative today and ask them to VOTE NO ON HB 1564.
