Sen. Brooks works with AG Drummond to address confusion over property purchases

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new state law to crack down on foreigners using straw owners to buy land for marijuana grows raised concerns from realtors and title companies worried they wouldn’t be able to sell homes to bonified Oklahoma residents who use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) rather than a Social Security Number (SSN). Sen. Michael Brooks said after working with Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office, that unintended consequence is being addressed.

“These businesses were worried this law could inadvertently block property sales to people who work, live and pay taxes in Oklahoma, including individuals with green cards, those with visitor and student visas, and others in our state using an ITIN,” said Brooks, D-Oklahoma City. “I’ve been collaborating with the attorney general’s office to address these issues, and I believe the affidavit forms they’ve developed for property purchases, as required by this new law, will address the concerns that were brought to my attention.”

The new legislation was built upon a 1910 statute that prohibits noncitizens from being able to own land in the state of Oklahoma, with the exception being bonified residents of the state of Oklahoma.

“We have noncitizens who are bonified residents and they are contributing members of our communities and state. There are 31,000 such immigrants in Oklahoma currently, and last year they paid $26 million in state income taxes — that’s on top of federal income taxes, as well as state and local sales taxes,” Brooks said. “I appreciate the efforts of the attorney general in resolving this issue.”

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Michael Brooks: (405) 521-5557 or Michael.Brooks@oksenate.gov