On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee passed The Food Security Act (HB 2833) designed to help Oklahoma families who are struggling with hunger and food insecurity. The bill now goes to the full Senate for debate and a vote. The bill, by Senator Andrew Rice (D-Oklahoma City) and Representative Kris Steele (R-Shawnee), would implement many of the recommendations from the State Hunger Task Force that delivered it’s final report to Gov. Henry and the State Legislature in January.
Among the provisions of HB 2833: (from state Senate press release)
- Creation of an Oklahoma Food Security Committee
- Tax relief for those most at risk for hunger
- Tax rebates for charities that address hunger issues in the state
- Sales tax exemptions for small farmers that sell at venues like farmer’s markets
All of this with the goal of reducing food insecurity in Oklahoma to at or below that of the national average by 2013. We will be keeping an eye on this bill as it makes its way through the process.
