Education

passed · South Carolina · House Apr 28, 2026

H 5201: Safe Schools Act of 2026

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SAFE SCHOOLS ACT OF 2026" BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP MULTIHAZARD EMERGENCY OPERATION PLANS, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTIFIED SCHOOL SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND REQUIRED LIVE DRILLS, AND TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY SLED, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety protocols, emergency plans, and drills to protect students, strengthening school environment for education access and safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 11, 2026

H 5156: Fiscal Responsibility in K-12 Technology Planning Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN K-12 TECHNOLOGY PLANNING ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO REQUIRE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES TO EVALUATE AND CONSIDER TOTAL OWNERSHIP COSTS AND FLEXIBILITY FOR INNOVATION AND ACCESSIBILITY WHEN ACQUIRING TECHNOLOGY, TO MANDATE ANNUAL REPORTING OF SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY DEVICE BREAK/FIX RATES AND RELATED DATA, AND TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO COMPILE AND REPORT STATEWIDE FINDINGS, PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS, AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates cost evaluation and reporting for school tech spending, directly promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management per its title and summary.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cost evaluations and reporting to ensure efficient tech resource allocation in K-12 schools, improving fiscal management of educational technology spending.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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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

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 26, 2026

H 5269: College Tuition and U.S. Citizenship

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-112-20, RELATING TO DOMICILE FOR TUITION RATES AND FEES FOR CERTAIN STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT IN-STATE RATES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, ESTABLISH FINES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PERMIT CERTAIN TAXPAYERS TO FILE LAWSUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts in-state tuition access for non-citizens, directly limiting educational access for non-citizens in higher education.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits in-state tuition for non-citizens, restricting access to state education benefits per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 785: University Employee Free Speech

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "REMEMBERING CHARLIE KIRK ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-700 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE MAY BE DISCHARGED FROM EMPLOYMENT FOR CAUSE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-710 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP A SPEECH CODE FOR PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES THAT MUST BE ADOPTED AND ENFORCED BY THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR A PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY WHO DOES NOT ADOPT OR ENFORCE THE SPEECH CODE.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts academic freedom by allowing discharge for certain public communications and mandating speech codes for university employees, directly limiting educational expression.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAllows discharge of university employees for certain public communications, restricting workplace free expression rights and weakening employee protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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signed · South Carolina · House Jun 2, 2026

H 5073: Public school grading

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEMS, TO CONDITION ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT RECOVERY AND CONTENT RECOVERY ON COMPLETION OF REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS, TO LIMIT THE USE OF CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS, TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS, TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND REVISIONS TO THE UNIFORM GRADING POLICY, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes academic standards for grading, requiring assignment completion and limiting assessments to ensure rigorous evaluation, advancing educational quality and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 27, 2026

H 5015: University Campus Events Zoning

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 53-1-20, RELATING TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES EXEMPT FROM THE PROHIBITION ON SUNDAY PUBLIC SPORTS, SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS PERTAINING TO CAMPUS EVENTS AND LAND USE APPROVAL, TO PROVIDE THAT NO COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY MAY PROHIBIT, RESTRICT, CONDITION, DELAY, OR REQUIRE LAND USE APPROVAL FOR EVENTS HELD ON THE CAMPUS OF A STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING BASED ON ZONING ORDINANCES OR LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS, AND TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF GENERALLY APPLICABLE SAFETY LAWS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes local zoning barriers for campus events at state-supported higher education institutions, enabling more educational and community activities without municipal interference. This supports institutional autonomy in higher education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 14, 2026

S 811: Non-teaching duties of public school educators

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-425 SO AS TO LIMIT TEACHER DUTIES UNDER SCHOOL DISTRICT SALARY SCHEDULES TO CLASSROOM AND CERTAIN RELATED DUTIES, TO PROHIBIT THE ASSIGNMENT OF EXTRACURRICULAR DUTIES WITHOUT CONSENT AND EXTRA COMPENSATION AS STATED IN THE TEACHING CONTRACT, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP RELATED PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE PROVISIONS, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH TEACHING CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLimits non-teaching duties for teachers, requires consent for extracurriculars with extra pay, directly supports educator workload management and job protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 774: School District Distribution of Local Revenue Per Pupil

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-245 SO AS TO REDUCE STATE AID TO CLASSROOM DISTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE DISTRICT'S LOCAL REVENUE PER PUPIL FOR EACH STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT THAT ATTENDS A STATEWIDE AUTHORIZED CHARTER SCHOOL.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces state aid to school districts by local revenue per pupil for charter school students, defunding public education programs and weakening district budgets.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReduces state aid to school districts by matching local revenue lost to charter school enrollment, directly cutting public school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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passed · South Carolina · House Jan 29, 2026

H 5051: Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT "INTRODUCE A GIRL TO ENGINEERING DAY"; TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, ENGINEERS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE; AND TO DECLARE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026, AS "INTRODUCE A GIRL TO ENGINEERING DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPromotes STEM engagement for girls via designated day, enhancing student program access and participation in engineering education85% confidence

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