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Senate committee advances bill to let Ponca City address long-unoccupied buildings
Summary
The Local and County Government Committee advanced Senate Bill 400 after debate about definitions, notice periods and property-owner protections. The bill, a request from Ponca City, would add “unoccupied” to statutes that now only cover abandoned buildings; sponsors said it targets long-neglected structures that harm neighboring properties.
Senate Bill 400, a request from Ponca City to let municipalities address long-unoccupied structures, advanced out of the Oklahoma Senate Local and County Government Committee by a 9-0 vote.
The bill’s author, Senator Coleman, told the committee the measure “is a request from the city of Ponca City” and described one downtown building that has been “unoccupied for about 30 years. However, the man is paying his taxes.” Coleman said the measure would add the word “unoccupied” into the existing statutory framework that now applies only when a building is abandoned and taxes are unpaid.
Supporters and critics focused on definitions and due process. Coleman said the bill aims to “define unoccupied and also define a good system for municipality should they choose to go around and try and enforce this.” Several senators stressed the need for guardrails. Senator Saccheri said, “I just feel like there’s gonna have to be a lot of guardrails put in this bill … I just don’t see a lot of protection here for the person that owns the property, and if they’re paying their taxes.” Other senators asked about notice periods and enforcement when owners live out of state; Coleman acknowledged the draft was imperfect and said he would work with the chair on refinements.
The author and the chair emphasized the measure is intended to address severe cases. Coleman said he’s “looking to make this narrowed down to the worst circumstances possible,” describing properties with extensive disrepair and pest issues that reduce neighboring property values.
Action: The committee struck the title by unanimous consent and recorded a due-pass motion with a mover (Senator Burns) and a second (Senator Stewart). The roll call produced 9 ayes, 0 nays; the committee chair declared the bill advanced.
The bill will return to committee work as the author and the chair agreed to draft clearer definitions and additional protections for property owners before floor consideration.
