OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives advanced House Bill 1076, also known as the Food Truck Freedom Act, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa. With an 85-3 vote, the bill aims to streamline the licensing process, allowing vendors with a valid state food establishment license to operate anywhere in the state, provided they follow all applicable state and local laws.
The Food Truck Freedom Act would establish a single, statewide permit for mobile food vendors to operate within the state while ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Once the state food establishment license is recognized, a vendor may operate at any location permitted by the local authority, including private properties.
“The food truck industry has grown tremendously in recent years, and we need to make sure vendors are able to operate with a streamlined licensing process while maintaining public health and safety,” Hildebrant said. “Currently, mobile food vendors must obtain separate permits for each city or county in which they operate, creating excessive costs and regulatory hurdles. This bill would provide a clear, statewide framework that supports both vendors and local governments.”
The Food Truck Freedom Act addresses the burdensome and inconsistent permitting requirements that often force food trucks to shut down or bypass the permitting process.
The measure outlines several operational requirements for mobile food vendors, including maintaining their vending vehicle in good condition, providing a waste receptacle and removing refuse within a 25-foot radius of the vehicle, displaying their food establishment license in a visible location and notifying the State Department of Health and local authorities within 10 days if they plan to serve food at a mass gathering.
Several states, including Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, have successfully implemented similar policies, leading to significant growth in their mobile food industries.
HB 1076 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
