Req. No. 10257 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) HOUSE BILL 2189 By: Blancett AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to housing; defining terms; creating the Oklahoma Workforce Housing Commission; providing for membership; stating quoru m; providing for qualifications for Commission members; stating appointment terms; allowing for certain reimbursement; subjecting Commission to Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; stating purpose; providing for promulgation of rules by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency; authorizing the Agency to implement certain reports and plans for expansion of affordable housing; requiring distribution and recommendations from Agency to the Governor and Legislature; creating the Oklahoma Workforce Housing Commission Revolving Fund; stating purpose; establishing funding procedures; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be co dified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2904 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: As used in this act: 1. “Extremely low-income household” means a household that has an income not in excess of thirty percen t (30%) of the area median Req. No. 10257 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 income, adjusted for the size of the household, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; 2. “Very low-income household” means a household that has an income of more than thirty percent (30% ) of the area median income but no more than fifty percent (50%) of the area median income, adjusted for the size of the household, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; 3. “Low-income household” means a household that has an income of more than fifty percent (50%) of the area median income but no more than eighty percent (80%) of the area median income, adjusted for the size of the household, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Devel opment; 4. “Moderate-income household” means a household that has an income of more than eighty percent (80%) of the area median income but no more than one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the area median income, adjusted for the size of the household, a s determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and 5. “Middle-income household” means a household that has an income of more than one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the area median income but no more than one hundred sixt y percent (160%) of the area median income, adjusted for the size of the household, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Req. No. 10257 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2904.1 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. There is hereby created until December 30, 2034, the Oklahoma Workforce Housing Commission. The Commission shall be composed of fifteen (1 5) members. The members shall serve as follows: 1. Five members shall be appointed by the Governor: a. one shall be a person living in an urban area with a population more than one hundred thousand (100,000) persons according to the latest Federal Decenn ial Census, b. one shall be a person living in a rural community in a county with a population less than seventy -five thousand (75,000) persons according to the latest Federal Decennial Census, c. one shall be an official serving in a city, town, or political subdivision in a county with a population less than seventy-five thousand (75,000) persons according to the latest Federal Decennial Census, d. one shall represent an organization that assists special populations, including , but not limited to, the elderly, the disabled, veterans, and children Req. No. 10257 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 transitioning out of foster care, in obtaining affordable housing, and e. one shall represent an Oklahoma rural housing authority; 2. Five members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate: a. one shall be a Senator from the majority party who shall serve as co-chair of the Commission, b. one shall be a Senator from the minority party who shall serve as co-vice chair of the Commission, c. one shall represent a low -income and moderate-to-low- income population-serving financial institution or a community development financial institution, as defined by the Federal Reserve, d. one shall be an official serving in a municipality with a population more than one hundred thousand (100,000) persons accor ding to the latest Federal Decennial Census, and e. one shall represent an urban housing authority; 3. Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives: a. one shall be a Representative from the majority party who shall serve as co-chair of the Commission, Req. No. 10257 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. one shall be a Representative from the minority party who shall serve as co -vice chair of the Commission, c. one shall represent a federally recognized tribe in Oklahoma that provides affordable housing in rural areas, d. one shall be a representative from a community housing development organization, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and e. one shall represent a not -for-profit organization that serves low-income Oklahomans exp eriencing difficulty in obtaining affordable housing; and 4. The following shall be ex officio members: a. one shall be a representative from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce representing community development, b. one shall be an Oklahoma representativ e of the United States Department of Agriculture, and c. the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, or his or her designee. B. For the initial appointments of members to the Commission, each appointment shall be for a two -year term. Thereafter, the terms of the Commission shall be for three (3) years. Req. No. 10257 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. No member of the Commission shall receive a salary or reimbursement for duties performed as a member of the Commission; however, members may be eligible to receive travel reimbursemen t as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act. D. The meetings of the Commission shall be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. E. The Commission shall utilize the resources available to address the needs of extremely low -income households, ver y low- income households, low -income households, moderate -income households, and middle -income households in order to promote a condition in which suitable housing is available to as many persons as possible pursuant to rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Hou sing Finance Agency pursuant to Section 3 of this act. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2904.2 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follo ws: The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency shall promulgate rules relating to: 1. An initial comprehensive Oklahoma workforce housing environmental scan and needs assessment; 2. A comprehensive Oklahoma affordable housing annual report and action plan to be submitted electronically to the Governor and the Legislature; Req. No. 10257 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. A state plan for long -term expansion of workforce and affordable housing across the state; 4. An update on the implementation and outcomes of the investment in the Oklahoma Housing Stabili ty Program created in Section 2903 et seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 5. An evaluation to make recommendations to the Legislature on policies and incentives to increase the development, inventory, and diversification of affordable housing; and 6. Any other rules necessary to carry out the purpose and mission of the Oklahoma Workforce Housing Commission pursuant to Section 2 of this act. SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Se ction 2904.3 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund to be designated as the “Oklahoma Workforce Housing Commission Revolving Fund”, which shall consist of all monies appropriated, transferred, or otherwise designated to the fund by law. The revolving fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall be under the administration of the Oklahoma Workforce Housing Comm ission and shall be budgeted and expended in accordance with the provisions of subsection B of this section for the purpose of improving the stock and affordability of Oklahoma housing. Req. No. 10257 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. No funds shall be budgeted or expended from the Oklahoma Workforce Housing Commission Revolving Fund prior to July 1, 2025, or prior to the approval by the Legislature of promulgated permanent rules by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act. SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 60-1-10257 TKR 01/15/25