Hunger Free Oklahoma Blog

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist, and Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy Welcome back Insiders! With Oklahoma’s 2026 legislative session behind us, our normally fast-paced policy world has relaxed… for now. State Updates Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton approved a series of interim studies on July 9. Studies that […]

When we recount the history of America’s efforts to reduce food insecurity, large-scale government programs often take center stage. But long before these policies existed, people were already responding.

It was nine months after ten strangers anxiously entered our Tulsa office, beginning a workshop centered on one of the most vulnerable and sensitive injustices that human beings should not experience: lack of food access.

7/17/26: Tulsa, OK — Governor Kevin Stitt’s recent interview with Stateline.org raises concerns about his understanding of hunger in Oklahoma and the role that proven anti-hunger programs play. Instead of following the data and research, the governor’s comments dismiss the realities facing hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma families and endorses the shaming of the most […]

New USDA data confirms that Oklahoma, along with 35 other states, could soon face massive new SNAP costs, putting food assistance at risk for families already struggling to afford groceries. Congress must act now to delay this cost shift for all states.

6/24/26: Tulsa, OK — A federal judge blocked five state SNAP purchasing restriction pilots that banned SNAP users from purchasing soda and candy with their benefits. At this time, the ruling does not impact SNAP purchasing rules in Oklahoma. The ruling raises questions about the future of similar policies across the country. The federal ruling […]

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist, and Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Updates It’s primary election season! Visit the Oklahoma Voter Portal to view a sample ballot, check your voter registration status, and view your polling place. Six hundred nine (609) candidates filed for state, federal, legislative, […]

New federal data show that Oklahoma’s SNAP enrollment has dropped significantly over the past year, with roughly 100,000 fewer Oklahomans participating in the program each month than a year ago. There are some national and local voices saying this is something to be celebrated and it’s a sign we are doing things right. To avoid any confusion, I want to be as clear as possible, those people are wrong. At Hunger Free Oklahoma, we want everyone who needs SNAP to have access to it. We also want to see fewer people need SNAP because they are earning enough to afford food and meet their basic needs without assistance. The current decline in participation does not reflect that reality.

One out of every four kids in Oklahoma doesn’t always have enough food to eat.

No child should have to sit in class hungry, struggling to focus. Hunger makes it harder for students to learn, creates challenges in the classroom for students and teachers, and contributes to worse outcomes for our educational system. Yet for thousands of Oklahoma children, this is their reality.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Updates The Oklahoma Legislature has adjourned from regular session, capping off an odd session filled with cross chamber disagreements and high stakes policy negotiations. With the way regular session ended, a special session could be on the horizon for the legislature. House leadership had […]