Committee creates urban agriculture cost-share program; no initial appropriation required

Representative Sandoval presented HB1910, a PCS that would establish an Urban Agriculture Cost Share Program within the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to support sustainable urban farming and food production projects. "It provides, funding to individuals, community groups like schools and local farmers for projects that enhance urban food security, green spaces and local agricultural economies," Sandoval said.

Sandoval clarified that the bill requests no immediate state appropriation and creates the program to operate "as funds become available," allowing the Conservation Commission to seek grants and federal or state appropriations to fund projects. "No. So this bill, creates the program, and it's as funds become available, so the conservation commission can find grants, in both state and federal appropriations, but right now it doesn't request any funds," Sandoval said.

Vice Chair West told the sponsor he planned to vote against the bill because its funding is subject to availability, though he praised the sponsor’s work. Committee members said they expected the commission to administer the program and to use grants and other funding sources.

The committee voted and the transcript records the result as 7 yeas and 1 nay; Representative Burns and Representative Petzkowski were recorded as voting aye in the roll-call exchange. Representative Sandoval’s bill was declared passed and will move forward to the next committee stage.