A bill filed ahead of the 2026 legislative session would provide Oklahoma’s 211 resource hotlines with state funding for the first time in a decade.
Senate Bill 1290 by Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, would allocate at least $3 million in state dollars to support 211 Eastern Oklahoma and HeartLine.
The free hotlines connect hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans each year to resources like food and mental health support. The hotlines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and together cover all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.
Each hotline spends roughly $1.5 million a year to operate. United Way has largely covered these costs since 2016, using donations from businesses and nonprofits. But growing need and dwindling resources have put a strain on donor dollars.
United Way and 211 directors asked the state for a $3 million investment in the hotlines during an October interim study. This money would cover operational costs and allow philanthropic dollars to instead be used for expanding 211’s resources and reach, the directors said.
The state used to pay around 30% to 40% of the hotline’s costs, but an economic downturn in 2016 led to funding cuts. The hotlines haven’t received state funding since, according to a spokesperson for 211 Eastern Oklahoma.
“We are seeing a tsunami of need. And I think 211 is a great gateway and a lifeline, but we would love to partner with the state to help us make sure that it stands up strong so that the private philanthropy dollars can make sure that the services we’re referring people to are strong,”Alison Anthony, president and CEO of the Tulsa Area United Way, said in a previous interview with The Frontier. Tulsa Area United Way began operating 211 Eastern Oklahoma in 2023.
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🔶 Donate NowOklahoma recently ranked sixth in the nation for food insecurity. And nearly half of all Oklahoma households aren’t making enough to afford basic needs like housing and food, according to a United Way report.
Consistent financial support from the state would allow 211 to continue to operate and expand to meet Oklahoma’s ever-growing need for services, Anthony said.
“At a time when demand for help continues to grow, this measure would provide important stability for Oklahoma’s 211 system,” Anthony said.
Anthony said Dossett shared the bill language with Tulsa Area United Way before it was introduced. The Frontier contacted Dossett, but she declined to comment on the measure at this time.
Margi Preston, CEO of HeartLine, said SB 1290 would strengthen the state’s social service response system and provide real-time data that can be used for policy and emergency management decisions. For every Oklahoman connected to services and every crisis averted, the state takes a measurable step toward health, stability and safety, she said.
“Investing in 211 doesn’t just fund a service,” Preston said. “It is a catalyst for stronger communities.”
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