OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma lawmaker has introduced legislation following multiple FOX23 investigations into complaints about a Tulsa-area pool company accused of leaving projects unfinished and homeowners out thousands of dollars.

FOX23 investigative reporter Janna Clark has reported for months on customers in Green Country who say they paid Midwest Pools, owned by Jeff Johnson, for swimming pools that were never completed.

Several homeowners shared photos of partially built pools and large holes left in their yards. In some cases, they said little work was done despite paying tens of thousands of dollars.

Tammy Schreiber of Coweta said Midwest Pools marked her yard with paint and stakes, but never began construction. She said she has paid nearly $30,000.

“It’s not a good feeling at all,” Schreiber said. “I feel ashamed that I was sucked into something like this.”

In Collinsville, Susan Sloan said she paid nearly $50,000 in full but never received a finished pool.

“We did our due diligence. We just got hoodwinked,” Sloan said.

Debbie Adkins of Muskogee said she paid $46,000 and was left with a large hole in her yard.

“This has been a nightmare. You can’t sleep at night,” Adkins said.

In response to cases like these, Rep. Chris Banning authored House Bill 3338, known as the “Pool Contractor Act.” The bill would create a licensing program for pool and spa contractors in Oklahoma.

“Millions of dollars are being taken from our constituents by bad actors, and this is one of the things that we need to fix,” Banning said.

Banning said he was motivated in part by the FOX23 Investigations that aired.

“I find them extremely disturbing,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we have pool companies taking advantage of everyday constituents.”

The proposed law would require contractors to meet certification standards. Banning said the measure would also help protect homeowners from liens if contractors fail to pay subcontractors.

That issue raised concerns for Tulsa homeowner Melinda Mavers, who said subcontractors contacted her directly, claiming they had not been paid for work on her pool.

Pool company owner Scott Bakkala, who supports the bill and helped suggest it, said his company, Vista Pools, often gets calls from customers left with incomplete projects.

“Many customers have incomplete projects or projects that never started and they’ve already paid out tens of thousands of dollars,” Bakkala said.

House Bill 3338 has passed the Oklahoma House and is now headed to the Senate. If approved there, it will move to the governor’s desk.

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office confirmed it is investigating Midwest Pools. Multiple customers told FOX23 they expect to be interviewed as part of that investigation.

Clark reached out to Johnson for comment on the complaints. He has not responded recently. In December, he said, “No comment at this time.”

You can read HB 3338 below: