Oklahoma Senate Bill SB982

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Real property; prohibiting leasing or owning of real property by certain persons; requiring certain affidavit as an attachment to lease or deed; requiring reversion of leased land under certain circumstances. Effective date.

Summary

SB982 would prohibit any non-U.S. citizen or “alien” from owning or leasing real property in Oklahoma, whether directly or indirectly through a business entity or trust, with an exception for business entities engaged in regulated interstate commerce under federal law. The bill also requires that any deed or lease for real property include an affidavit attesting that the transaction complies with the new restrictions and that no prohibited funding source is being used. The Attorney General would be directed to create separate affidavit forms for individuals and for business entities or trusts. The bill further provides enforcement and divestiture provisions. Leases found to violate the act would not be eligible for renewal, and the leased property would revert to the lessor when the lease expires. Noncitizen owners of Oklahoma real property would have six months after the effective date to divest their ownership, and if they do not, the Attorney General could file an action in district court to enforce the law. The act is set to become effective November 1, 2025.

Impact

If enacted, SB982 would add a new section to Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes governing real property ownership and leasing. It would impose citizenship-based restrictions on who may hold real property interests in the state, require new affidavit documentation for real estate transactions, and authorize the Attorney General to promulgate forms and bring enforcement actions. The bill would directly affect non-U.S. citizens, foreign-owned entities, trusts, landlords, tenants, and real estate transactions statewide.

Sentiment

Available context shows limited public or legislative debate, with no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided. Based on the bill’s referral to Judiciary and its subject matter, the measure appears to have been treated as a significant legal and constitutional issue rather than a routine property-law change. The bill text itself reflects a strong restrictive policy approach, while the absence of recorded discussion leaves overall legislative sentiment difficult to gauge beyond the fact that it advanced to second reading and committee referral.

Contention

The central point of contention is the bill’s categorical prohibition on ownership or leasing by non-U.S. citizens, which raises likely concerns about discrimination, property rights, federal preemption, and constitutional limits on state regulation of aliens and foreign commerce. The exception for entities engaged in regulated interstate commerce suggests an attempt to avoid conflict with federal law, but the breadth of the ban and the divestiture requirement would likely be the main areas of dispute. The Attorney General’s enforcement role and the requirement for affidavits attached to deeds and leases also create compliance and administrative concerns for property owners, brokers, and title professionals.