Oklahoma Senate Bill SJR45

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/8/22

Caption

Constitutional amendment; prohibiting certain ownership of land through business entity or trust.

Impact

If enacted, SJR45 would significantly alter existing property laws in Oklahoma by establishing stricter regulations on land ownership for non-citizens. The amendment proposes that all non-citizens must dispose of any land acquired within a specified one-year time frame, which would reduce the previous five-year period. This shift underscores the legislative intent to prevent any long-term holdings of land by individuals who do not have citizenship status, potentially affecting a range of stakeholders including business entities owned by non-citizens.

Summary

SJR45 is a proposed constitutional amendment introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature aimed at modifying land ownership laws in the state. It seeks to prohibit non-citizens and aliens from acquiring title to or owning land in Oklahoma either directly or through business entities or trusts. This proposed change seeks to strengthen state law regarding property ownership by emphasizing citizenship as a criterion for land ownership, thus reflecting a trend toward prioritizing citizens' rights in property matters.

Contention

The proposal has raised points of contention around issues of discrimination and property rights. Critics argue that this measure could unfairly target specific groups of residents and could lead to hardships for lawfully residing non-citizens who contribute to the community. There are concerns that such restrictions may exacerbate existing inequalities in access to property and hinder economic opportunities for all residents of the state.