Education

passed · South Carolina · House Apr 23, 2026

H 5546: Flint Hill Elementary School make-up day waiver

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE YORK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 4 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT SCHOOL DAYS MISSED BY FLINT HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON MARCH 5 AND 6, 2026, DUE TO A CHEMICAL LEAK ON PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE SCHOOL BE MADE UP, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill waives make-up days due to a chemical leak, protecting student health and ensuring safe learning conditions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · South Carolina · House Apr 2, 2026

H 3831: Smart Heart Act

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SMART HEART ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-165 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-17-155, RELATING TO THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR ONSITE AND WITHIN CERTAIN PROXIMITY OF SCHOOL ATHLETIC VENUES, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED TESTING, MAINTENANCE, AND PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cardiac emergency response plans and AED presence in public schools, enhancing school safety infrastructure per education topic description.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

vetoed · South Carolina · House Apr 1, 2026

H 5182: Jasper County Council

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE LOCAL FUNDS ON A PER-PUPIL BASIS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY THAT SATISFY CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL MAY DESIGNATE AND ALLOCATE ANY COUNTY REVENUE SOURCE FOR ALLOCATION TO ELIGIBLE CHARTER SCHOOLS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes per-pupil funding for charter schools, increasing financial support for K-12 education access and expansion.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · South Carolina · House Apr 1, 2026

H 3258: Mobile panic alert systems in public schools

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-66-35 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE ACQUISITION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MOBILE PANIC ALERT SYSTEMS IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SYSTEMS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCUREMENT AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mobile panic alert systems in public schools, enhancing safety infrastructure per education support indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · South Carolina · House Mar 5, 2026

H 4257: Excused student absences

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-462 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, RELATING TO EXCUSED SCHOOL ABSENCES FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ANY INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY AUTHORIZED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ACTIVITY IS SANCTIONED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE OR ANY OTHER GOVERNING ENTITY, AND TO REQUIRE THAT STUDENTS BE IN ACADEMIC GOOD STANDING TO QUALIFY FOR SUCH EXCUSED ABSENCES. - RATIFIED TITLE

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to excuse absences for approved activities, enabling student participation in school programs without penalty.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 · Senate May 19, 2025

S 79: Noncertified Teacher Pilot Program

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-1115 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO PERMIT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HIRE NONCERTIFIED TEACHERS IN A RATIO UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE TEACHING STAFF OF THE DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED PARTICIPATION AND IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 23-3-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE AGENCY REQUESTS OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationAllows noncertified teachers, removing certification requirements for educators, which weakens teacher qualification standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes 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