Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:34 a.m. on April 10 to include a statement from Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman.
Senate Bill 484, which would impose zoning restrictions on homeless shelters in most Oklahoma cities, failed in committee Wednesday afternoon.
The bill, proposed by Sen. Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) in January and amended in February, would prohibit new homeless shelters from being approved within 3,000 feet of a school, school property, public library, municipal park, child or adult day care facility or pre-K facility in cities with less than 300,000 residents.
Tulsa and Oklahoma City are the only cities in Oklahoma with a population over 300,000.
The bill died in the House County and Municipal Government Committee Wednesday, failing to receive a recommendation of do pass.
Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore), a sponsor of the bill, answered several questions from committee members.
Rep. Tim Turner (R-Kinta) questioned why the bill specified a 3,000 feet distance when sex offenders and marijuana dispensaries can be located closer to a school.
West said sex offenders are closely monitored by law enforcement and are usually employed so they are occupied during the day. West said there is not enough police available to monitor people experiencing homelessness so the distance is needed.
Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) asked, considering the bill’s language only applying to cities with a population of over 300,000, if a specific community requested the bill.
West said he has worked closely with the city of Norman and has heard concerns from Norman residents. West clarified that he did not know if the city requested the bill.
“I do want to make it crystal clear, to the best of my knowledge, the city of Norman did not request this bill,” West said “Maybe they did. Maybe they didn't, but to (the) best of my knowledge, they did not.”
In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, Ward 7 Councilmember and Norman Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman posted that he was happy to see the bill defeated.
"I hope to see actual solutions from the legislature to address homelessness and how it grew by over 20% in the State of Oklahoma last year," Holman wrote.
The bill would not have affected existing shelters within 3,000 feet of the specified areas, or shelters that existed before the development of those areas.
The bill would have required any entity that proposed a shelter’s development to notify property owners within 1,000 feet of the proposed site. According to the bill, owners would be required to receive a written notice mailed within 30 days of a hearing to “preserve public safety.”
Domestic violence and youth shelters would not be subject to the bill, according to its language.
Background on Norman’s emergency shelter
In October 2022, Norman City Council entered into a contract with Food and Shelter, a nonprofit dedicated to providing services to people experiencing homelessness in Norman, to operate A Friend’s House, the city’s emergency shelter, by an 8-1 vote.
In March 2023, council extended the contract 8-1 to July 2023. After July 2023, council continued to extend the contract on a monthly basis.
In September, Food and Shelter announced it would part ways with the shelter after a report issued by the city accused the organization of mismanaging funds. Food and Shelter continued operating the shelter until City Care, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit, took over operations in January.
Between September and November, council discussed finding a new operator and continuing the shelter. In October, Mayor Larry Heikkila and Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball said they believed the shelter should close.
On Nov. 26, council approved a new contract with City Care 5-4, terminating its contract with Food and Shelter. Ball, Heikkila, Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash and Ward 8 Councilmember Scott Dixon voted against the contract.
At a debate for the Feb. 11 mayoral election, Heikkila said he agreed with Standridge’s original bill, believing the city does not have the funds to support people experiencing homelessness.
