An act relating to agriculture, the official text

1                            STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 2918                       By: Pittman

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6                            AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to agriculture; creating the

    Expanding Access to Local Foods Act of 2025; defining

8   term; creating certain program; authorizing the

    Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to

9   utilize certain funds; stating purpose of program;

    providing program requirements; authorizing the

10  promulgation of rules and procedures; creating the

    Expanding Access to Local Foods Program Revolving

11  Fund; providing for content of fund; providing for

    deposits and expenditures; providing for

12  codification; and providing an effective date.

13

14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

15  SECTION 1.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

16 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5001 of Title 2, unless there is

17 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

18  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Expanding

19 Access to Local Foods Act of 2025".

20  SECTION 2.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

21 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5002 of Title 2, unless there is

22 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

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    Req. No. 11321                                              Page 1
1   A. As used in this act, "Market value" means the price that a

2 property would sell for in a competitive market under fair

3 conditions.

4   B. There is hereby created a program to purchase locally grown

5 fruits and vegetables from small and underserved producers in

6 Oklahoma to be administered by the Oklahoma Department of

7 Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. to accomplish the goals of this

8 act, the Department is authorized to use the funds available in the

9 Expanding Access to Local Foods Program Revolving Fund established

10 in Section 3 of this act. The purpose of the program is to maintain

11 and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency and expand

12 economic opportunities for small and underserved producers while

13 promoting food security.

14  C. The Department shall purchase at market value locally grown

15 fruits and vegetables from small and underserved producers in

16 Oklahoma and shall donate those fruits and vegetables to non-profits

17 in Oklahoma that distribute food within the state free of charge.

18  D. The Department shall promulgate rules and procedures to

19 effectuate the provisions of this act

20  SECTION 3.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

21 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5007 of Title 2, unless there is

22 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

23  There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund

24 for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to be

    Req. No. 11321                                                Page 2
1 designated the "Expanding Access to Local Foods Program Revolving

2 Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal

3 year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the

4 Department from appropriations, federal grants or funds, municipal

5 contributions, private contributions, and any other sources,

6 including interest earned from the income in the fund, that are

7 designated for deposit to such fund or designated for duties

8 associated with this act. All monies accruing to the credit of said

9 fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the

10 Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to perform

11 the duties imposed on the Department by law. Expenditures from said

12 fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer

13 against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the

14 Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and

15 payment.

16  SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.

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18  60-1-11321      JL  01/04/25

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    Req. No. 11321                                                 Page 3