WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 274

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Rader and 1 co-sponsor

SB 274 requires Oklahoma landlords receiving state tax credits to adopt written criminal history screening policies with standardized procedures for tenant selection decisions.

Placed on General Order
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 274

Legislative bill overview

SB 274 requires landlords who receive certain state tax credits to establish and follow a written criminal history screening policy for tenant selection. The bill sets procedural standards for how these screening policies must be implemented and documented, with an effective date specified in the legislation.

Why is this important

Criminal history screening by landlords directly affects housing access for individuals with conviction records, who already face significant barriers to securing rental housing. This bill attempts to balance tax incentive programs with fairness considerations by mandating transparent, standardized screening procedures rather than allowing arbitrary denial practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of criminal history: Unclear which crimes disqualify applicants or how far back landlords can look; overly broad screening could perpetuate discrimination against formerly incarcerated individuals seeking to reintegrate
  • Tax credit targeting: The bill applies only to landlords receiving tax credits, creating potential two-tiered housing market where screened properties differ from unregulated ones, possibly concentrating certain populations
  • Enforcement mechanism: No specified enforcement body or penalties are evident, raising questions about how compliance will be monitored and what remedies exist for applicants wrongfully denied housing

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.