Building and maintaining healthy working relationships with any elected official is key to achieving successes, both big and small. Our state legislature is no different. With 34 new lawmakers joining the 126th Session of the South Carolina General Assembly in January, Wholespire has been meeting with new members and sharing data that illustrates the experiences of those living in poverty and how gaining access to programs like school lunches helps them. Wholespire has established itself as a credible source of information regarding legislative action inspiring wellness in communities. We have a network of partnering organizations that help develop legislative relationships and action.
If you have a direct relationship with your legislator and would like to help introduce us to them, we welcome you to join us at the State House. If you want to help us advocate when we issue a call to action sign up for notices below. Your voice in advocacy is vital in ensuring Wholespire’s mission is conveyed to all legislators and encourage them to join their colleagues in furthering bills that support our values.
Bills we are activity engaged in advocating include:
S.425 School Meals for Students in Poverty
Senators Davis and Hembree
In addition to requiring eligible school districts to take part in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), this bill mandates that school districts determine the number of students living in poverty annually and expand access to free school breakfast and lunch for those students. Additionally, the bill mandates that all documentation be provided straight to parents or guardians, with help available to complete it. Meal shaming, the practice of publicly identifying or punishing students for accepting free school meals, is prohibited. This bill was introduced March 5th and referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
S.147 Healthy School Meals for All
Senator Devine
This bill seeks to ensure all eligible public schools that participate in the school breakfast program will provide breakfast and lunch free of charge to all students. The bill also requires schools to provide a 30 minutes lunch period to all students. The bill was introduced to the Senate and referred to the Committee on Education.
H.3212 Physical Activity in Schools
Representative Collins
This bill ensures students have set physical activity time scheduled in each school day. This bill was referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works and received its first reading in January.
H.3195 Unstructured and Self-directed Recess in Public Schools
Representatives Haddon, Pope, Pedalino, Chumley, Taylor, Erickson, Bradley, Hixon, Ligon, Weeks, Oremus, Hartz, Williams, Luck, Gilliard, Rivers and Anderson
This bill requires public schools to provide mandatory minimum periods for physical education and recess for students in four-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade beginning in the 2026-27 school year. This bill has already passed the House of Representatives and resides in the Senate Committee on Education.
Be sure to follow us on social media and help us spread the word to others about opportunities to advocate. Email us at info@wholesgire.org if you would like us to collaborate with your community and would like more information or training regarding advocacy efforts.