Senate passes bill excluding Sundays and holidays from eviction timeline after heated debate

The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 1209 after a renewed vote and extended floor debate, approving a change that excludes Sundays and listed state holidays from eviction-timeline calculations.

Minority Leader Kurt moved to reconsider an earlier failure and brought the bill back to the floor. In closing remarks he framed the bill as modest and limited: “This on average would add 1 day to the cycle,” he said, and argued the change would not prevent landlords from serving summonses on holidays or Sundays when necessary.

Opponents said the amendment needlessly prolongs the eviction process for property owners. Senator Guthrie said, “This bill failed the first time because, when you look at it closely, it doesn't solve a real problem,” arguing that excluding Sundays and holidays only lets nonpaying tenants remain longer. Senator Jett told colleagues, “We're effectively removing days from the calendar that they can resolve these issues,” saying the change weakens private-property protections for small landlords.

Senator Kurt acknowledged concerns about corporate filings and said the measure is not intended to affect criminal or damage-based evictions, reiterating it aims to add limited time only for specific civil procedures. After debate, the roll call produced 26 ayes and 18 nays; the chair declared the bill passed. Senator Pugh asked to be shown as not voting for reasons of personal interest under the state constitution; the clerk noted the request.

What happens next: The bill was advanced and passed on final reading in the Senate. No action recorded here shows a House concurrence or gubernatorial signature; additional steps were not specified in the floor transcript.