Education (Student Financial Aid)

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-110-60, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS, STUDENT LOANS, AND GRANTS UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA CRITICAL NEEDS NURSING INITIATIVE ACT, SO AS TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF LOANS FOR NURSING EDUCATION TO STUDENTS WHO CONTRACTUALLY AGREE TO PRACTICE NURSING IN CERTAIN CRITICAL NEEDS GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIRED TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUCH CONTRACTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 42 TO CHAPTER 6, TITLE 12 SO AS TO ALLOW AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES GRANTS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND CERTAIN INDEPENDENT AND HOME SCHOOLS, TO SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CREDIT IS CLAIMED, TO SPECIFY THE PROCESS BY WHICH CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS BECOME ELIGIBLE, TO SPECIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION WHICH MUST BE MADE PUBLIC, AND TO ALLOW THE STATE TREASURER AND DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CREDIT; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 12-6-3790 RELATING TO EDUCATIONAL CREDIT FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILDREN'S FUND.

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 HOUSE RESOLUTION TO URGE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO FORGIVE THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT OF ALL REGISTERED NURSES AND DOCTORS.

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 59-111-20, RELATING TO FREE TUITION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR FREE TUITION IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING PART 7 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 37 SO AS TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT INTEREST MAY ACCRUE ON A STUDENT EDUCATION LOAN.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-380, RELATING TO THE EDUCATIONAL LOTTERY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS PROGRAM, SO AS TO REVISE THE PURPOSES AND FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS FOR TEACHERS TO OBTAIN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN THEIR CONTENT AREA, FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNDERGRADUATES WHO CHOOSE TO MAJOR IN EDUCATION, AND GRANTS TO TEACHERS AND CERTIFIED PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS TO REPAY STUDENT LOANS, AND TO ESTABLISH THE TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND PROCEDURES FOR THESE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-149-170 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP UNTIL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF HIS FRESHMAN YEAR; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-370, RELATING TO THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP UNTIL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF HIS FRESHMAN YEAR.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP INCREASE AND INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-150-420 SO AS TO INCREASE CERTAIN LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS BY TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT AND TO PROVIDE FOR FUTURE INCREASES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-104-27 SO AS TO ESTABLISH DURATIONS FOR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TO MAKE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-60, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO MAKE LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS.