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Policy and Advocacy

Oklahoma is hungry.

Hunger is solvable through a unified, statewide voice at the Capitol and within our communities.

Federal nutrition programs are critical for food security in Oklahoma.

A child who cannot rely on a nutritious meal at home can be ready and able to learn at school because of the School Breakfast Program.

A working mother who is struggling to make ends meet knows she can get help to get food on the table through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

But these programs are only as strong as the support they receive in the halls of the state legislature and Congress. Hunger Free Oklahoma works daily to remove barriers, protect, and expand these vital programs to work toward a future in which no one in Oklahoma goes hungry.

Policy and Advocacy Inquiries

Jessica Dietrich
Director of Government Relations and Public Policy
Send an Email
Call or text: 405.546.9084

Bailey Ashbaker
Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist
Send an Email
Call or text: 405.818.0263

Catch up on the latest policy and advocacy news.

Children eating school lunch

How Oklahoma Doubled Free School Meal Access — and Why It Matters Now

One out of every five kids in Oklahoma doesn’t always have enough food to eat. No child should have to sit in class hungry and unable to focus. It hurts their ability to learn, disrupts the class for the teacher, and results in worse outcomes for our educational system. But it happens in classrooms for thousands of students in our state every day because their families don’t have the resources and their schools don’t leverage all the tools available to them to make sure kids have access to the food they need.

Capitol Insider: Latest News on Food Insecurity Policy & Advocacy (June 2025)

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates For the 2025 Legislative Session, 527 bills were sent to the Governor. 148 of those bills were signed, 70 were vetoed, and 47 of the vetoes were overridden. 305 bills became law without the […]

HFO Responds to Governor Stitt’s Executive Order Seeking to Limit SNAP Purchases

Hunger Free Oklahoma President/CEO Chris Bernard released a statement in response to Governor Stitt’s Executive Order 2025-13 which, in part, seeks to limit SNAP purchases: Today, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced in an executive order that he had the Oklahoma Department of Human Services pursue federal approval to restrict the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits as part of a larger set of directives to address Oklahomans’ health. While we all share the important goal of improving health outcomes for Oklahomans, this approach is misaligned with both the data and the broader needs of our communities.

Catch up on the latest policy and advocacy news.

Children eating school lunch

How Oklahoma Doubled Free School Meal Access — and Why It Matters Now

One out of every five kids in Oklahoma doesn’t always have enough food to eat. No child should have to sit in class hungry and unable to focus. It hurts their ability to learn, disrupts the class for the teacher, and results in worse outcomes for our educational system. But it happens in classrooms for thousands of students in our state every day because their families don’t have the resources and their schools don’t leverage all the tools available to them to make sure kids have access to the food they need.

Capitol Insider: Latest News on Food Insecurity Policy & Advocacy (June 2025)

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates For the 2025 Legislative Session, 527 bills were sent to the Governor. 148 of those bills were signed, 70 were vetoed, and 47 of the vetoes were overridden. 305 bills became law without the […]

HFO Responds to Governor Stitt’s Executive Order Seeking to Limit SNAP Purchases

Hunger Free Oklahoma President/CEO Chris Bernard released a statement in response to Governor Stitt’s Executive Order 2025-13 which, in part, seeks to limit SNAP purchases: Today, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced in an executive order that he had the Oklahoma Department of Human Services pursue federal approval to restrict the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits as part of a larger set of directives to address Oklahomans’ health. While we all share the important goal of improving health outcomes for Oklahomans, this approach is misaligned with both the data and the broader needs of our communities.

Working together for a hunger free Oklahoma.

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