Bill > HB3967

This bill updates Oklahoma's Landowner's Bill of Rights, which informs property owners about their rights when their land might be taken through eminent domain, a process where the government can acquire private property for public use. Key changes include requiring the statement to be given to the property owner early in the acquisition process, before any negotiations begin, and mandating that the Attorney General review and update this important document every two years to keep it current and clear. The bill also clarifies what constitutes a "bona fide good-faith effort to negotiate," specifying that it now includes providing the property owner with the appraisal or damage assessment the acquiring entity used. Additionally, it allows for land acquired through eminent domain to be transferred between certain state agencies, as long as the receiving agency has been specifically funded by the Oklahoma Legislature, without triggering the landowner's right of first refusal, which is a right to buy back the land if it's sold. This bill is set to become effective on November 1, 2026.

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3967&Session=2600