Education

passed · South Carolina · House Mar 4, 2026

H 4468: Local advisory councils for educating students with disabilities

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates advisory councils to improve educational access and support for students with disabilities, strengthening inclusive education efforts per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · South Carolina · House Jun 5, 2025

H 4187: Lexington County School District Property Tax Relief Act extension

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

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends sales tax funding for school district property tax relief, maintaining fiscal support for education through continued revenue mechanism.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends a sales tax providing property tax relief for Lexington County School District, maintaining dedicated revenue for school funding. This sustains educational financing without increasing local property taxes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · South Carolina · Senate Jun 5, 2025

S 389: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO LIFE SCHOLARSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP ENHANCEMENT, DESIGNATED AS

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationApproves existing scholarship regulations, maintaining state funding for higher education access without changes to current support structure.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · South Carolina · House May 19, 2025

H 3632: STEM scholarship stipends

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

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends scholarship requirements to mandate STEM-related coursework in math/science, expanding educational access and promoting STEM pathways for college students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · South Carolina · Senate May 19, 2025

S 78: Work Experience Credit for Educators

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

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides non-teaching experience credit for teacher salary advancement, strengthening educator compensation without altering certification requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · South Carolina · Senate May 16, 2025

S 425: School meals for students in poverty

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

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates increased access to free school meals for students in poverty, expanding educational access and supporting vulnerable students' ability to learn.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · South Carolina · House May 8, 2025

H 3802: Participation in school activities and programs

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by mandating equal participation in school activities for homeschool/charter students, aligning with curriculum and program inclusion indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House May 7, 2025

H 4339: South Carolina Healthy School Meals Act

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits harmful food additives in school meals, ensuring healthier nutrition for students, which directly supports K-12 school health and well-being as part of educational environment protection.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits harmful food additives in school meals to protect children's health, directly advancing public health initiatives through nutritional safety standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House May 1, 2025

H 3758: Student expression of religious viewpoints

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school policies enabling voluntary religious expression in student forums, supporting educational freedom of expression within K-12 settings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

H 3201: Computer Science Education Initiative Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION PLAN AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFERS AT LEAST ONE COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE THAT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates computer science courses in public high schools, expanding access to CS education and enhancing curriculum requirements for K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates computer science education expansion in high schools, promoting tech literacy and workforce development through required courses and statewide planning.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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