OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, and Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, both advanced bills through committees that help to address student outcomes and chronic absenteeism in school by reducing student evictions. HB 3386 by Rep. Clinton seeks to combat chronic absenteeism and improve student outcomes by requiring mediation through Oklahoma’s Early Settlement Mediation Program before evicting a household with minor children. This mediation program is free for both parties, and mediation typically takes place just outside the courtroom on the same day as eviction proceedings. Oklahoma’s free mediation program is nationally renowned with a 70 percent success rate, and mediation is typically completed within an hour on the same day. Importantly, HB 3386 does not allow tenants to squat, does not extend statutory eviction timelines, does not impose additional costs or fees on landlords or tenants, and does not tilt the scale in favor of either party. “Chronic absenteeism is closely linked with lower test scores and poor educational outcomes, so if we are going to improve education in Oklahoma, it starts with stabilizing housing for kids,” Clinton said. "The purpose of HB 3386 is simple and takes a common-sense approach. It helps stabilize housing for children without burdening landlords or delaying evictions. I also own and manage rental properties, so I fully respect property owners' rights. However, I also recognize the desperate need to curb chronic absenteeism as an educational and future workforce issue. HB 3386 simply asks people to attempt to resolve their issues by talking first, a skill that is quickly becoming a lost art.” Even short disruptions, such as couch-surfing and switching schools mid-semester, can have lasting educational consequences, but HB 3386 takes a narrow, practical approach to ensure that students have the best opportunity to continue their education without disruption. The measure now moves to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee. HB 3698 by Rep. Pogemiller creates a pilot program in one metro community and one rural community (population 50,000–75,000) to provide legal representation to indigent families with students in pre-K through 12th grade. HB 3698 passed out of the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee. “As we better understand the immediate and long-term impacts of evictions and housing instability on students, family support services have become an essential part of the education landscape,” said Pogemiller. “This is one small but meaningful step.” An interim study by Pogemiller found that in Oklahoma City Public Schools, 60% of students experiencing homelessness or housing instability were chronically absent during the 2024-2025 school year. The study also found that families of students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten are facing the highest eviction rates of any grade level at Tulsa Public Schools. HB 3698 helps to ease this massive burden on Oklahoma families so that students can continue learning without disruption. The measure now moves to the Full House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Both bills are designed to provide Oklahoma students with the best opportunities for educational success as they face circumstances beyond their control. -END-
