Committee approves bill to let municipalities establish land banks

A House committee voted 5-1 to approve House Bill 1114 after adopting an amendment that explicitly includes mayors and mayoral designees in the bill's implementation language.

Representative Stewart, who explained the amendment on the House floor, said, "The amendment, as written is to include the words mayor or mayor's office," and later described the bill as making "it will be lawful for municipality to adopt a land bank program if they so choose." The bill, Stewart said, is "in line with the efforts that we're having in Tulsa" and is "supported by my district and supported by the mayor as well."

The amendment discussion clarified operational language. Representative Stewart explained why he added the words, saying, "Not every municipality runs just with the city manager. So I wanted to make sure that I was inclusive of all municipalities by by adding the language mayor or mayor's office designee." The committee adopted that amendment before returning to debate the bill as amended.

Representative Turner thanked Stewart and asked whether Stewart would work with stakeholder groups, asking, "Are you willing, if it was to get out of the committee today, are you willing to work with OML, ATCO, and everybody to get this over the hurdle and make sure that we protect all of those entities that can help with our land base and the concerns that we've talked about?" Stewart replied, "Absolutely. Anything that we need to do moving forward to make sure that this is, cohesive and and and works for all municipalities, I'm willing to do so."

Turner also sought assurance that the bill would not grant land banks a preferential "first right for purchase from tax sales" or first rights on abandoned properties; Stewart said some of those issues "were touched in this legislation" and that he "do[es] recognize that there may be a need for clarity" and would "look forward to working with you in the future."

The committee moved to a vote after a motion to "do pass." A second was recorded, and the committee chair announced the tally as "5 aye, 1 nay." The chair then stated, "Representative Stewart, I have motion that your bill has passed. 5 aye, 1 nay." No roll-call names were provided in the transcript.

The discussion in committee focused on who could act for a municipality under the proposed land bank authority and on clarifying purchase-right language; no final text beyond the amendment and the committee vote was presented in the transcript.