The Links, Inc Food Access, Equity

2025-2026 Bill 5255: The Links, Inc Food Access, Equity - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5255
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Henderson-Myers, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0436VR-KAR26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 25, 2026
Adopted by the House on February 25, 2026
Summary: The Links, Inc Food Access, Equity
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/25/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 6
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/25/2026

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.

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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

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

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

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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

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

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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

W
hereas, 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,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat 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 equity, health, and justice for all residents of South Carolina.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Vanessa Falls, Southern Area
Director of The Links, Incorporated.

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This web page was last updated on February 25, 2026 at 11:28 AM