Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-33-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BY ITS RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, COMPOSITION, DUTIES, AND PURPOSES OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS; TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS; AND TO PROVIDE DEADLINES FOR THE CREATION OF RELATED MODEL BYLAWS, THE SUBMISSION OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL BYLAWS FOR APPROVAL, AND THE FIRST MEETINGS OF EACH LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.

AN ACT TO EXTEND THE ONE PERCENT SALES TAX IMPOSED BY ACT 378 OF 2004, AS AMENDED, THE LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT, FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN YEARS. - RATIFIED TITLE

This bill (S 389) is a procedural joint resolution formally approving the State Commission on Higher Education’s Regulation Document 5321, which governs the LIFE Scholarship and Scholarship Enhancement programs. It directly affects South Carolina students receiving these state-funded scholarships by confirming the Commission’s established rules for eligibility, administration, and awarding. The resolution does not create new policies but authorizes the Commission’s existing regulations to take effect under state law. It was signed by the governor on April 28, 2025, and became effective the same day.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-15, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL LIFE SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS, AND SECTION 59-104-25, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS, BOTH SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN COURSEWORK IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS STATISTICS MUST COUNT TOWARDS CERTAIN REQUIRED FRESHMAN YEAR COURSEWORK IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE, AND TO CLARIFY THESE PROVISIONS APPLY BEGINNING WITH ACCOUNTING MAJORS WHO COMPLETED SUCH COURSEWORK AS FRESHMEN IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL AWARD YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CREDIT FOR CERTAIN RELEVANT NON-TEACHING OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO CERTIFICATES OF EDUCATORS WHO SATISFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE SUCH EXPERIENCE CREDIT MAY BE AWARDED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCEMENT ON THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE, TO PROVIDE OTHER EXISTING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS REMAIN UNCHANGED BY THIS ACT; AND TO PROVIDE DIRECTIVES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-110, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-115, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES, SO AS PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PRIORITY AND GENERAL APPLICATIONS, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN EXEMPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR NONPUBLIC EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-120, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND, SO AS TO RECHARACTERIZE ITS CORPUS AND REVISE ITS USAGES, TO ESTABLISH A TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT FOR THE FUND AND TO PROVIDE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE, AND TO ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIP ALLOCATION AMOUNTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-125, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP FUND PAYMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEE IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR TRUSTEE PAYMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE TERMS FOR A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUSTEE'S DUTIES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-130, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY TERMINATION NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO RESTATE THE SECTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-135, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP PARTICIPANT NUMBER LIMITATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE LIMITATIONS, ENABLE INCREASES, AND REMOVE A PERIODIC PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND USE REVIEW REQUIREMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-140, RELATING TO EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS, AND TO REMOVE CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-8-145, RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT WITH QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS FOR RELATED ASSISTANCE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-8-147 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND TO PROVIDE A GRACE PERIOD FOR APPLICANTS TO CORRECT MINOR ERRORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-150, RELATING TO EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO EXPAND EMPLOYEE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, TO REVISE EMPLOYEE SURETY BOND REQUIREMENTS, TO REVISE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND TO REMOVE A PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-160, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND REVIEW PANEL, SO AS TO RESTATE THE SECTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-165, RELATING TO DISTRICT-LEVEL STUDENT TRANSFER POLICIES, SO AS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING LANGUAGE WITH PROVISIONS CONCERNING INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-170, RELATING TO AN EXEMPTION FROM HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE TRANSFER ELIGIBILITY RULES FOR INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS, SO AS TO MAKE THE PROVISION APPLICABLE TO SCHOLARSHIP AND NONSCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE SUBSEQUENT TRANSFERS ARE SUBJECT TO HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE ELIGIBILITY RULES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-350, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE LOTTERY FUNDING, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-100, RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY HOME SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, AND GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN COCURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TO PROVIDE EQUAL TREATMENT FOR SUCH STUDENTS AND STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-462 SO AS TO EXCUSE ABSENCES, NOT TO EXCEED TEN SCHOOL DAYS PER SCHOOL YEAR, FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHEN PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCES, AND TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS MISSED DURING SUCH EXCUSED ABSENCES. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO 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.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-435, RELATING TO THE RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTS ANTIDISCRIMINATION ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT CERTAIN POLICIES CONCERNING LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS AND VOLUNTARY STUDENT EXPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTS BEFORE THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO PROVIDE A MODEL POLICY THAT SCHOOLS MAY ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE POLICY REQUIREMENTS.