The bill establishes the Oklahoma Local Food for Schools program, which aims to facilitate the purchase of local foods by school districts. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry is tasked with operating this program and is encouraged to promote partnerships between school districts and local producers and meat processors by providing reimbursement for local food costs. Additionally, the Department is authorized to create necessary rules for the program's implementation.
To support this initiative, the bill creates the Oklahoma Local Food for Schools Revolving Fund within the State Treasury. This fund will be a continuous source of financing, consisting of all funds received from legislative appropriations designated for the program. The Department will have the authority to expend these funds for the program's purposes, with expenditures managed through the State Treasurer. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.