OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill aimed at providing more flexibility for Oklahoma mobile food vendors by allowing alternatives to automatic fire suppression has been signed into law.

House Bill 3369, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, and Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, allows certain mobile food vendors to use alternative fire suppression methods in place of automatic fire suppression systems if specific safety requirements are met.

"This legislation works within the adopted fire code to provide an equivalent alternative method of fire suppression for food trucks," Hildebrant said. "House Bill 3369 provides flexibility for mobile food vendors by allowing alternatives to automatic fire suppression systems, as long as they have proper fire extinguishers and complete annual safety training. This helps small business owners continue operating while still prioritizing public safety."

Gillespie agrees that this new law will remove regulations that make it difficult for mobile vendors to succeed.

"Last year, Representative Hildebrant and I cut red tape for mobile food vendors through the landmark Food Truck Freedom Act," Gillespie said. "This measure builds on that progress by removing costly and unnecessary regulations in state law that make it difficult to operate these mobile businesses. This bill removes the sole mandate for overhead fire suppression systems by allowing practical alternative safety standards and makes liquefied petroleum gas inspections more convenient for food truck owners." 

Current fire code standards state that mobile food vendors which produce smoke or grease-laden vapors are required to install automatic fire suppression systems.

Under HB3369, mobile food preparation vehicles without automatic fire extinguishing systems will not be required to install them if they instead carry at least two portable Class K-rated fire extinguishers and require all employees complete annual fire safety training.

"For many food truck operators across Oklahoma, the cost of installing automatic fire suppression systems created serious financial challenges," Hildebrant said. "This law provides a practical alternative that keeps safety standards in place while helping these small businesses continue serving their communities."

The measure also simplifies the process for mobile vendors to obtain their permits from the Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board and the State Fire Marshal.

HB3369 takes effect Nov. 1.