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Bill > H4339

SC H4339

SC H4339
South Carolina Healthy School Meals Act

summary

Introduced
04/09/2025
In Committee
05/07/2025
Crossed Over
05/07/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

126th General Assembly

Bill Summary

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Enacting The "south Carolina Healthy Schools Act" By Adding Section 59-10-325 So As To Protect The Health And Well-being Of Children By Prohibiting The Use Of Harmful Food Additives In School Meals, Ensuring Ingredient Transparency, Establishing Compliance Procedures And Enforcement Mechanisms, To Provide A Periodic Review And Possible Updates Of Prohibited Additives, To Define Necessary Terms, And To Make Related Findings.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the "South Carolina Healthy Schools Act" to prohibit ultraprocessed foods with specific harmful additives in public school meals starting July 1, 2027. The bill defines ultraprocessed food as any food containing 11 specific additives, including various artificial colors (like Yellow Dye 5 and Red Dye 40) and chemicals such as potassium bromate and titanium dioxide. Food suppliers must provide detailed ingredient lists, and schools must submit annual compliance certifications to the State Department of Education. The law includes a graduated enforcement mechanism with warnings, potential fines up to $5,000, and possible supplier disqualification for repeated violations. Food suppliers found in violation will have 60 days to correct issues and may be required to undergo training. The State Department of Education will conduct random audits every two years and perform a comprehensive review of prohibited additives every five years in consultation with the State Department of Agriculture. The bill's underlying rationale, as stated in the legislative findings, is to address childhood obesity, hyperactivity, and long-term health risks associated with synthetic food additives, with the goal of prioritizing student health in taxpayer-funded school meal programs.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (63)

Shannon Erickson (R)*,  Carl Anderson (D),  Heather Bauer (D),  Thomas Beach (R),  Beth Bernstein (D),  Phillip Bowers (R),  Jeff Bradley (R),  Joe Bustos (R),  Micah Caskey (R),  Don Chapman (R),  Bill Chumley (R),  Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D),  Brandon Cox (R),  April Cromer (R),  Sylleste Davis (R),  Adam Duncan (R),  Sarita Edgerton (R),  Cal Forrest (R),  Stephen Frank (R),  Craig Gagnon (R),  Daniel Gibson (R),  Doug Gilliam (R),  Thomas Lee Gilreath (R),  Brandon Guffey (R),  Patrick Haddon (R),  Bill Hager (R),  Robert Harris (R),  Tom Hartnett (R),  Charles Hartz (R),  Bill Herbkersman (R),  Lee Hewitt (R),  William Huff (R),  Jermaine Johnson (D),  Jay Jordan (R),  Jay Kilmartin (R),  Brian Lawson (R),  Steven Long (R),  Jason Luck (D),  Josiah Magnuson (R),  David Martin (R),  Ryan McCabe (R),  Tim McGinnis (R),  Cody Mitchell (R),  Timothy Morgan (R),  Dennis Moss (R),  Brandon Newton (R),  Jordan Pace (R),  Fawn Pedalino (R),  Tommy Pope (R),  Luke Rankin (R),  Robert Reese (D),  Michael Rivers (D),  Mark Smith (R),  Tiffany Spann-Wilder (D),  Bill Taylor (R),  James Teeple (R),  Jackie Terribile (R),  David Vaughan (R),  Courtney Waters (D),  David Weeks (D),  Bill Whitmire (R),  Paul Wickensimer (R),  Mark Willis (R), 

Last Action

Senate Education Subcommittee on 70, 4257, 4339 (10:00:00 1/21/2026 Gressette Room 209) (on 01/21/2026)

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