Proposed bill protects renters, targets mold problems

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A state lawmaker wants to hold landlords accountable with a proposed bill for the upcoming legislative session.

Representative Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, said his bill was an effort to protect renters from what he called “unsafe” conditions.

House Bill 1063, or the Anti-Fungi Act, would require landlords make repairs and provide treatment for mold after it was reported by the renter.

"My hope is that this will encourage landlords to do the right thing, to take care of the mold that their tenants are living with, and we can prevent people from getting sick, getting mold, infection, have an asthma problem," said Dollens.

Dollens explained how it would work.

"If a tenant notifies their landlord that there is mold in their apartment or around it, the landlord has up to three days to address the issue and a total of seven days to finish treatment,” said Dollens. “If they fail to do that, then they have to pay whatever medical bills may come up for the tenant or their family and also a $1,000 fine."

In 2022, Governor Kevin Stitt signed the Landlord-Tenant Act into law. The legislation helped to protect tenants if a landlord failed to fix certain improvements within 14 days. Dollens said his bill would target mold and its dangerous effects.

"This is by no way is to give a black eye to all landlords. We've got some great and responsible local landlords in Oklahoma and even some out of state,” said Dollens. “But the big problems tend to come from these hedge funds, investors who gobble up hundreds of houses and then aren't very attentive to those tenants."

He said the bill was in its infancy, but believes it would garner bi-partisan support.

The legislative session will begin February 3.