OKLAHOMA CITY –Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, hosted an interim study on Thursday on the impact of building code revisions to encourage the development of workforce housing.

“Thank you to our local experts for joining us at the State Capitol to better inform members on how we can improve the paths to building the kind of safe, quality housing our workforce and families need,” Schreiber said. “This is just the beginning of this conversation, and I look forward to the work we can do together.”

The study explored collaborative and comprehensive solutions and included presentations from the Cindy Giedraitis with the National Fire Sprinkler Association, Mark Tackett with Oklahoma Fire Sprinkler Association, Mark Gandy American Institute of Architects, Oklahoma Chapter, David Adcock of the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, Austin Tunnell of Building Culture, Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Keith Bryant, and Tyler Parette with Housing Forward, the executive director of a statewide non-profit using data and policy to advancing housing preservation and expansion in Oklahoma.

The study explored data on the needs for workforce housing and the gaps across the state in meeting the need for those seeking housing for one to two occupants. The discussion explored fire safety and where regulations applicable to larger multi-unit dwellings may not be needed. Participants acknowledged that despite market demands the regulatory environment is sometimes cost-prohibitive for the needed smaller multi-units dwellings.  

“We want Oklahomans to stay, live, and work here–and we want to welcome anyone who wants to come to our great state–but we have got to have places for these folks to live. Quality workforce housing is desperately needed across the state and that requires a regulatory environment that is willing to move quickly with that need,” Schreiber said. “We have developers, builders, and businesses across the state that want to help meet the needs with safety and quality, but they are challenged with burdensome processes and with unnecessary regulations.”

Legislators, housing and workforce advocates, and industry leaders can collaborate to remove cost barriers while maintaining the safety of Oklahomans.

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