South Carolina H 5255: SEC Student Govt. Exchange, use of House chamber

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5255 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 25, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5255

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE THE 
SOUTHERN AREA OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED WHICH STANDS READY TO PARTNER WITH THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OTHER POLICYMAKERS, AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY 
ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE A VISION OF FOOD EQUITY, HEALTH, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL 
RESIDENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, The Links, 
Incorporated has a rich and documented legacy of promoting and engaging in 
educational, civic, and intercultural activities that enrich the lives of 
members of the Black community at large; and

Whereas, The Links, 
Incorporated has five programming facets - Services to Youth, The Arts, 
National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and 
Human Services - as the cornerstone of their community service; and

Whereas, The Links, 
Incorporated implements programs and initiatives that address the most critical 
needs of underserved communities; and

Whereas, the Southern 
Area of The Links, Incorporated is comprised of eighty-three chapters across 
seven states and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; and

Whereas, there are more 
than 5,000 members of the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated that hail 
from the deep southern states of Mississippi and Alabama; the French tradition 
and Creole culture of Louisiana; the coastal wonders of North Carolina and 
South Carolina; the southern charm of Georgia; the emerald coasts and sugar 
beaches of sunny Florida, as well as the sun-drenched tropical beauty of the 
Bahamas; and

Whereas, the Southern 
Area of The Links, Incorporated is committed to strengthening families and 
communities through intentional civic engagement and impactful service, and the 
southern area faces persistent food insecurity that disproportionately affects 
Black, rural, and low-income households located in our communities throughout 
the great State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, the Southern 
Area of The Links, Incorporated has implemented the Emerald Plate Initiative to 
enhance food access, justice, and sovereignty throughout the Southeastern 
United States; and

Whereas, reliable, 
nutritious food access is foundational to good health, educational attainment, 
and economic stability; and

Whereas, the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation's most effective 
antihunger program, supports local economies, and can be strengthened by state 
action on eligibility, access, and outreach; and

Whereas, all farmers 
are central to the south's agricultural heritage, but Black farmers remain 
underrepresented and face systemic barriers in land retention, market access, 
and capital; and

Whereas, in South 
Carolina, SNAP supports thousands of households statewide. South Carolina's 
Healthy Bucks program adds produce dollars for SNAP shoppers at participating 
markets; and

Whereas, the General 
Assembly can take actions to address food insecurity, access, and equity, 
including among children, by expanding access to the SNAP program with 
broad-based eligibility requirements, raising income thresholds, and reducing 
administrative barriers; by enacting and funding Healthy School Meals for All 
legislation to reduce childhood hunger by providing breakfast and lunch to all 
students at no cost, regardless of the student's household income; by accepting 
Summer EBT funds as a means to reduce childhood hunger, boost the local 
economy, and improve health and academic outcomes; and by establishing a Food 
Security and Equity Task Force to monitor progress and ensure accountability; 
and

Whereas, the General 
Assembly also can enact policies and programs that will benefit communities 
disproportionately affected by food insecurity by investing in nutrition 
incentive programs such as Double Bucks, Fresh Access Bucks, or Healthy Bucks that 
boost fresh produce access and support local farms; by supporting Black farmers 
by expanding equitable access to land, credit, procurement opportunities, and 
heirs' property resolution support; by building sustainable food networks, 
improving infrastructure in rural and underserved areas, and coordinating 
disaster nutrition programs; and by incentivizing community and school-based 
gardens to enhance public health and wellness, benefit the local economy, and 
provide community and educational opportunities. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, recognize the Southern Area of the Links, Incorporated 
which stands ready to partner with the South Carolina General Assembly and 
other policymakers, agencies, and community organizations to advance a vision 
of food eq