by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist
The temperatures are creeping up and legislative deadlines creep up on us as well, welcome back to our March edition of Capitol insider. We have updates on committee deadlines, floor deadlines, and which bills are still standing. The winds of change are blowing at the federal level as the dust settles around a new administration.
State Updates:
Active Bills
- HB 1111 (Rep. Pogemiller & Sen. Coleman): Requires Oklahoma Human Services to fully implement the Elderly and Disabled Simplified Application Process. This program reduces bureaucracy for older adults and people with certain disabilities when they apply for, and recertify for, SNAP benefits. Passed the House Floor.
- HB 1575 (Rep. Lawson & Sen. Seifried): Requires the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to explore creating a streamlined, unified benefits application for multiple benefits programs. Passed the House Floor.
- SB 190 (Sen. Pederson & Rep. Pae): Reauthorizes the option to donate a tax refund to a food bank. Passed the Senate Floor.
- SB 806 (Sen. Pugh & Rep. Moore): Creates the Food is Medicine Act, to direct the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek coverage for nutrition supports using the Medicaid program. The measure also directs the Department of Education to provide technical assistance to schools for Farm to School grants. Passed the Senate floor.
Dormant Bills:
- HB 2382 (Hill) – Requires increased data-matching for SNAP eligibility and prohibits providing benefits through categorical eligibility. Restricts SNAP users from purchasing soft drinks or candy. Dormant pursuant to the rules.
- HB 1577 (Lawson) – Requires Medicaid to cover the cost of medically necessary human milk for premature babies. Dormant pursuant to the rules.
- HB 1797 (Kerbs) – Moves the administration of Child Nutrition Programs from Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Dormant pursuant to the rules.
- SB 184 (Kirt) – Directs Oklahoma Human Services to extend SNAP benefits to those within 175% of the Federal Poverty Level. Dormant pursuant to the rules.
- HB 2032 (Rep. Deck) & SB 194 (Sen. Murdock) would have required the state to opt-in to this federal program. Dormant pursuant to the rules.
- HB 1605 (Rep. Gise), HB 2092 (Rep. Menz), and SB 28 (Sen. Hicks) all would have expanded access to no-cost school meals. All of these bills are dormant pursuant to the rules.
- SB 113 (Dossett) – Exempts child support payments below a certain threshold from determining TANF eligibility. Voted from committee – Dormant pursuant to the rules.
Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol
If you were at the Capitol on March 27, you may have seen some of our advocates from Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol chatting with legislators and staff in between floor votes. A huge thanks to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma for helping Hunger Free Oklahoma put on this event. And a shoutout to everyone who attended. We had nearly 200 people register this year.
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