Ten Oklahoma residents are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to toss out an initiative petition that seeks to phase out property taxes for those who live in their homes.

The petitioners say it violates several provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution and are asking the state’s high court to prevent State Question 843 from being circulated for signature collection.

“Exempting homesteads from taxation would have a devastating effect on our state,” the lawsuit, filed Wednesday, said.

The plaintiffs include homeowners, two Oklahomans who serve on school boards, the chief of a fire protection district and an undersheriff in a rural county.

State Question 843 asks voters to amend state statute to gradually reduce property taxes for those with a homestead exemption and end them permanently beginning in 2029.

Two Republican lawmakers and one former one are the proponents of the measure, which has been withdrawn and refiled more than once.

The measure treats owners of residential property more favorably than Oklahomans who don’t own their residence and more favorably than other types of real property, in violation of the Constitution, the suit said.

“It would provide a tax exemption for residents who own their home, but not residents who rent their home,” the suit says.

The proposed state question makes no provision to replace $1.52 billion in lost revenue, the suit said, adding that 68% goes to schools.

“They are making a lot of arguments I am going to have to study,” said Mike Reynolds, a former Republican Oklahoma House member from Oklahoma City who is one of the three proponents of State Question 843.

However, he believes that some of the arguments are not valid.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are working on a different state question that seeks to cap property tax growth.

That measure would reduce the maximum amount a property value can increase each year. Residential and agricultural properties can increase by 3% each year while commercial properties values can grow by 5%.

If Senate Joint Resolution 39 is approved by voters, property values could only increase by 1.75% for primary residences and 4% for commercial properties.

The measure has cleared the state House, but awaits Senate consideration.

Barbara Hoberock is a senior reporter with Oklahoma Voice. She began her career in journalism in 1989 after graduating from Oklahoma State University. She began with the Claremore Daily Progress and then started working in 1990 for the Tulsa World. She has covered the statehouse since 1994 and served as Tulsa World Capitol Bureau chief. She covers statewide elected officials, the legislature, agencies, state issues, appellate courts and elections.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.