OKLAHOMA SETS THE STAGE: HEALTHY SNAP WAIVER On June 26, 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled “Make Oklahoma Healthy Again” at the State Capitol—with its centerpiece being Oklahoma’s bold SNAP waiver request to ban purchases of soda, candy, and high-sugar, low-nutrition items with food-stamp benefits. This makes Oklahoma the first state leading a federal effort to reshape food assistance toward better health outcomes.
Governor Stitt also signed Executive Order 2025-13, directing studies on water fluoridation, elimination of artificial dyes, and establishing a Make Oklahoma Healthy Again Advisory Council to carry momentum into schools, prisons, and public meals.
In remarks at the press event, Kennedy summarized their stance: “If you want to drink a bottled soda, you should be able to have that right. But the federal government should not be paying for it with taxpayer money.”
OKLAHOMA’S TRACK RECORD OF HEALTHCARE FIRSTS This SNAP initiative is the latest in a long line of statefi rsts that demonstrate Oklahoma’s willingness to lead on public health innovation— even when it ruffles feathers.
1. Telehealth Pioneer (1997): Oklahoma was the first state in the nation to mandate telemedicine reimbursement across Medicaid, private plans, and workers’ comp under the Telemedicine Act (SB 2048).
2. Broadband for Telehealth Access (2011): State law expanded free broadband access to eligible healthcare entities.
3. Medicaid Value-Based Drug Contracts (2018): Oklahoma launched value-based prescription contracts tying cost to patient outcomes.
4. Enhanced Maternal Reporting & Review (2024): HB2152 required maternal deaths to be reported within 72 hours of occurrence.
5. Prenatal CPR & Infant Health (2022): SB 1462 mandated hands-on CPR and first aid training at birthing centers. 6. Children First Home Visits (1996): A pioneering nurse-family program designed to reduce infant mortality.
7. First Female State Health Inspector (1908): Sallie L. S. Sturgeon set foundational public health standards.
8. Desegregated Nursing School (1940s): Opaline Wadkins helped reduce Native American infant mortality and integrate hospital care.
THE CONTROVERSY: HEALTH GOALS VS. HARD TRUTHS The proposal hasn’t come without criticism. Some argue the move unfairly targets the very people SNAP is meant to support. And the truth is, for many low-income families, sugar and caffeine aren’t just a treat—they’re a daily source of energy when affordable nutrition is hard to come by.
But the facts are also hard to ignore: Low-income Americans consume more sugary drinks than anyone else. CDC research shows that adults below the poverty line get nearly twice as many calories from sugar-sweetened beverages as those in higher income brackets. It’s a pattern seen across children too. While SNAP users aren’t the only ones buying soda, data shows they spend roughly 10% of their food budgets on sugary drinks. And when it comes to health outcomes, Oklahoma’s rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease remain among the nation’s highest.
So while the restriction may sting, the state argues it’s not about punishing—it’s about breaking a cycle.
A GARDEN EXAMPLE, AND GROWING LOCAL OPTIONS While much of the debate around Oklahoma’s SNAP proposal is focused on what families can’t buy, Governor Stitt says it’s just as important to talk about what is possible. After their announcement, Secretary Kennedy visited the Stitt family ranch, touring rows of vegetables and herbs grown without chemicals—a personal demonstration of what healthy eating can look like.
Of course, not everyone has space for a backyard garden, and not all healthy food is easy to find in every Oklahoma town. But there are options— more than ever before.
Oklahoma’s “Double Up Oklahoma” program rewards SNAP users for buying healthy food: when you spend your SNAP dollars on fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets, the program matches your purchase dollar-for-dollar. That means twice as many fresh, local produce items for the same price, making it easier for families to make healthy choices without extra cost.
Here in Beckham County, healthy choices are growing closer to home. The Sayre Farmers Market is held at the old Sonic location on 4th Street. Elk City’s new farmers market will be across from Ackley Park, every Wednesday at 6 p.m. beginning July 2nd. While EBT acceptance isn’t guaranteed at every vendor yet, these markets represent a growing path to better nutrition—especially as Double Up Oklahoma expands.
CHARTING THE COURSE AHEAD From the moment Oklahoma became a state in 1907, we’ve been trailblazers. Just a year later, in 1908, Sallie L. S. Sturgeon became America’s first female state health inspector— an audacious step when women couldn’t even vote. That spirit of bold leadership lives on today, through breakthroughs in telehealth, value-driven drug contracts, maternal health programs, and more.
We haven’t waited for federal mandates, and we’re not starting now.
Oklahoma’s SNAP waiver isn’t an outlier—it’s the next step in a century-long tradition of health innovation. And this time, the focus isn’t just on restricting sugar—it’s on uplifting families. The Double Up Oklahoma program already matches SNAP dollars for produce, giving shoppers $20 worth of fresh fruits and veggies for just $10. That kind of incentive isn’t just policy— it’s something families can enjoy at the checkout.
That said, the waiver isn’t in effect yet. Oklahoma has submitted its request to the USDA, joining states like Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah, which are currently seeking approval for similar bans on soda and candy. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service must now review Oklahoma’s proposal, consider feedback, and set pilot program terms. The path forward includes USDA evaluation, a public comment period, and, if approved, a pilot launch—likely in early 2026— with USDA oversight.
Supporters note that every waiver so far has gained bipartisan support, but organized opposition—from beverage and candy lobbies and some public-health groups—cautions that a fragmented patchwork could burden retailers and stigmatize recipients.
Still, if Oklahoma stays the course, the potential payoff is big: healthier grocery carts, stronger families, and a public- health milestone rooted in 116 years of state-first thinking.
If the waiver is approved, Oklahoma won’t just follow— it’ll show the rest of the country how real change gets done, one grocery cart at a time.
