School meals for students in poverty
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S 425 — School meals for students in poverty
Last action — Act No. 23
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 05, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on May 08, 2025.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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7 sponsors
7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-795 SO AS TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUALLY SHALL IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF ITS STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES FOR THESE STUDENTS, TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL BOARDS, AND TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT SHALL BE SUSPENDED IF CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDING IS SUSPENDED OR DISCONTINUED. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
2 added · 38 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest version of Bill S 425 has removed a requirement for school districts to report specific numbers regarding student participation in school meals. Instead, it now focuses on identifying districts where all schools qualify for free meal reimbursements under a federal program known as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This change is important because it simplifies reporting for districts and ensures that those eligible for free meals receive necessary funding and support without the burden of extensive data collection.
26,05, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 425Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Marchbill 26, 2025TO AMEND S.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-795 SO AS TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUALLY SHALL IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF ITS STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES FOR THESE STUDENTS, TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL BOARDS.
425 Introduced by Senators Davis, Hembree, Ott, Elliott and Jackson S.
Printed 3/26/25--S.
Read the first time March 5, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Education To whom was referred a Bill (S.
425) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 59-63-795 so as to provide each public school district annually shall identify the number of its students, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-63-795(B) and inserting:
(B) The local board of trustees of a district in which all schools are eligible to receive the free federal reimbursement rate for all reimbursable school breakfasts and lunches served, pursuant to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in Section 1759(a) of Title 42 of the United States Code, shall adopt a resolution indicating its degree of participation, if any, in CEP.
If a district is unable to participate in CEP because participation would cause a financial hardship, its board shall adopt a resolution stating that it is unable to participate in CEP and demonstrate the financial hardship.
The resolution must be published on a public meeting agenda concurrently with the proposed district budget as an action item.
A majority of the board members is required to approve any resolution under this subsection.
The requirements of this subsection shall be suspended if CEP is suspended or discontinued by federal action.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
GREG HEMBREE for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-795 SO AS TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUALLY SHALL IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF ITS STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES FOR THESE STUDENTS, TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL BOARDS.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on March 26,05, 2025 at 08:2802:54 PM
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
This bill adds a new section to the South Carolina Code of Laws requiring public school districts to identify students living in poverty and enhance access to free school meals for them.
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Section 59-63-795
Each public school district annually shall identify the number of its students who live in poverty and increase access to free school breakfasts and lunches for these students.
This mandates that public school districts must identify students in poverty and improve their access to free meals.
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Section 59-63-795
This number must be obtained from the annual State Aide to Classrooms formulation in the annual state budget.
This specifies that the identification of students in poverty must rely on state budget data.
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Section 59-63-795
For purposes of this section, 'students in poverty' means students who: (1) qualify for Medicaid benefits; (2) qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; (3) qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; or (4) are homeless, transient, or in foster care.
This clearly defines who qualifies as 'students in poverty' for this bill.
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Section 59-63-795
The local board of trustees of a district in which all schools are eligible to receive the free federal reimbursement rate for all reimbursable school breakfasts and lunches served, pursuant to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in Section 1759(a) of Title 42 of the United States Code, shall adopt a resolution indicating its degree of participation, if any, in CEP.
This establishes a requirement for school boards to adopt resolutions regarding their participation in the Community Eligibility Provision.
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Section 59-63-795
If a district is unable to participate in CEP because participation would cause a financial hardship, its board shall adopt a resolution stating that it is unable to participate in CEP and demonstrate the financial hardship.
This allows districts to opt-out of CEP if they can prove financial hardship.
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Section 59-63-795
The resolution must be published on a public meeting agenda concurrently with the proposed district budget as an action item.
This ensures transparency by requiring public notice of the resolutions regarding CEP.
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Section 59-63-795
A majority of the board members is required to approve any resolution under this subsection.
This sets a voting requirement for school board resolutions on CEP participation.
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Section 59-63-795
The requirements of this subsection shall be suspended if CEP is suspended or discontinued by federal action.
This provides a stipulation that local requirements may change based on federal actions regarding CEP.
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Section 59-63-795
A district shall ensure that the parents or guardians of students eligible for free and reduced lunch receive the necessary applications and instructions and, upon request, are provided with assistance in completing the paperwork.
This requires districts to support parents in applying for free and reduced lunch programs.
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Section 59-63-795
If a student is unable to pay for a meal or accrues meal debt, the student's district or school may not publicly identify or penalize the student in any way including, but not limited to, denying meals, serving alternative meals, discarding meals after serving them to the student, requiring chores or work in exchange for meals, prohibiting participation in extracurricular activities, denying participation in graduation, withholding diplomas, or refusing transcript requests.
This protects students from punishment or stigma due to meal debt.
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Section 59-63-795
Communications from the district or school regarding any meal debt owed only may be directed to the parent or guardian of the student and may be sent home through the student.
This restricts communication about meal debt to parents or guardians only, protecting student privacy.
Action History
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Act No. 23
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Effective date 05/08/25
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Signed By Governor
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Ratified R 39
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Read third time and enrolled
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Roll call Yeas-94 Nays-15
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Read second time
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Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to House
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Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Committee Amendment Adopted
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Senator Tom Davis · Primary
- Senator Greg Hembree · Primary
- Senator Russell L. Ott · Primary
- Senator Jason Elliott · Primary
- Senator Darrell Jackson · Primary
- Senator Luke A. Rankin · Primary
- Senator Tameika Isaac Devine · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on · 15 voted No
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (163)
163 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 163 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 92 | 14 | 0 | 13 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 94 | 15 | 0 | 14 |
| % of votes cast | 76% | 12% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (45)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 425 do?
- AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-795 SO AS TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUALLY SHALL IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF ITS STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES FOR THESE STUDENTS, TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL BOARDS, AND TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT SHALL BE SUSPENDED IF CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDING IS SUSPENDED OR DISCONTINUED. - RATIFIED TITLE
- Who sponsors S 425?
- S 425 is sponsored by Senator Tom Davis, Senator Greg Hembree, Senator Russell L. Ott, Senator Jason Elliott, Senator Darrell Jackson, Senator Luke A. Rankin, and Senator Tameika Isaac Devine.
- What is the current status of S 425?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 05, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track S 425?
- Track S 425 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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