Vetoed by Governor Kevin Stitt

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Conservation Commission to create guidelines aimed at fostering urban agriculture within Oklahoma's urban counties.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Conservation Commission to create guidelines aimed at fostering urban agriculture within Oklahoma's urban areas and counties (Sec. 1-7).

• Defines “urban area” as the areas in Oklahoma that have been defined by the United States Census Bureau as urban areas based on certain criteria and utilizing data from the most recent Federal Decennial Census (Sec. 1-7).

• Requires that developing the guidelines for an Urban Agriculture Cost Share Program, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission shall consider the following, including (Sec. 1-7):

• Prioritizing projects in geographic areas where residents have low levels of access to retail outlets selling healthy and affordable food;

• Building on existing urban agriculture projects to continue to grow community engagement;

• Reviewing approved cost-share methods available through USDA-NRCS to promote urban agriculture, improve urban food security, and enhance green spaces in urban areas; and

• Evaluating if other federal, state, or Oklahoma tribal programs can be enhanced by the inclusion of practices in the Commission's Urban Agriculture Cost Share Program.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect November 1, 2025 (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Conservation Commission to create guidelines aimed at fostering urban agriculture within Oklahoma's urban counties.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Conservation Commission to create guidelines aimed at fostering urban agriculture within Oklahoma's urban areas and counties (Sec. 1-7).

• Defines “urban area” as the areas in Oklahoma that have been defined by the United States Census Bureau as urban areas based on certain criteria and utilizing data from the most recent Federal Decennial Census (Sec. 1-7).

• Requires that developing the guidelines for an Urban Agriculture Cost Share Program, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission shall consider the following, including (Sec. 1-7):

• Prioritizing projects in geographic areas where residents have low levels of access to retail outlets selling healthy and affordable food;

• Building on existing urban agriculture projects to continue to grow community engagement;

• Reviewing approved cost-share methods available through USDA-NRCS to promote urban agriculture, improve urban food security, and enhance green spaces in urban areas; and

• Evaluating if other federal, state, or Oklahoma tribal programs can be enhanced by the inclusion of practices in the Commission's Urban Agriculture Cost Share Program.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect November 1, 2025 (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text