Officials vote to provide $1M per week to Oklahoma food banks until SNAP is funded

Summary:

– State board approves $1M weekly for food banks amid shutdown.

– Funds will aid SNAP recipients as federal aid remains stalled.

– DHS to oversee disbursement; emergency fund holds $7.8M.

OKLAHOMA CITY — State officials voted Monday to send Oklahoma food banks $1 million a week if federal food assistance programs continue to lack funding during the government shutdown .

The Contingency Review Board, whose voting members include Gov. Kevin Stitt , Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton , R-Tuttle, and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert , R-Bristow, unanimously approved the plan . The funding is approved for up to seven weeks, drawing from a state emergency fund that has a $7.8 million balance. The expenditure is contingent on a continued lack of federal funding.

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