Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FOREIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS OUT OF AMERICAN EDUCATION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-425 SO AS TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FROM SOLICITING OR ACCEPTING CERTAIN GIFTS OR TRAVEL FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARY NATIONS, FOREIGN PRINCIPALS, OR FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, TO RESTRICT FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON HIRING, CURRICULUM, AND CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF GIFTS AND CONTRACTS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND FOREIGN PRINCIPALS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-245 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES BY STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES BY TEACHERS IN PROVIDING INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

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.

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.

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.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATOR TRAINING, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE GOVERNOR'S TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO REVISE DUTIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-53-40, RELATING TO COLLEGE PARALLEL COURSES AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, SO AS TO REMOVE RELATED BUDGETARY REVIEW REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-40, RELATING TO THE CONVERSION FROM THE QUARTER CALENDAR SYSTEM TO THE SEMESTER CALENDAR SYSTEM BY THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING 59-143-10, RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN FUNDS FROM THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ENDOWMENT, SO AS TO REMOVE SPECIFIC TIMES FOR RELEASING THE FUNDS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-143-30, RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION FORMULA FOR CERTAIN FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO STUDENTS ATTENDING INDEPENDENT COLLEGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE FORMULA; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-355, RELATING TO EDUCATION LOTTERY APPROPRIATIONS AND USES, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-380, RELATING TO THE GRIEVANCE AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL PROCEDURE FOR ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO THE COMMISSION; BY REPEALING CHAPTER 51 OF TITLE 11 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE ACT; BY REPEALING SECTION 39-9-230 RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE WITH ASSISTANCE BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-54-20 RELATING TO THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-340 RELATING TO ALLOCATION OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR A CERTAIN INVESTMENT INITIATIVE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-360 RELATING TO CERTAIN REVENUE FROM TAX ON CATALOG SALES CREDITABLE TO MAIL ORDER SALES TAX FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-50 RELATING TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF PRIVATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-120 RELATING TO THE ACCREDITATION AND CHARTERING OF CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGES; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-162 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-210 RELATING TO THE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-230 RELATING TO THE ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS PROGRAM; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-410 RELATING TO THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-420 RELATING TO CRITERIA FOR RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND USES; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-430 RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS FOR THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND TO BE MADE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-440 RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-105-60 RELATING TO THE MODEL SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY CREATED BY THE CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT INFORMATION ACT; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-111-75 RELATING TO THE COLLEGE LOAN PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-121-15 RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITADEL TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE INSTITUTION; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-127-75 RELATING TO THE FELTON-LABORATORY SCHOOL AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-150-380 RELATING TO THE EDUCATION LOTTERY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "MERIT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 2026"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-680 SO AS TO ENSURE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF DEI STRUCTURES AND RACE-CONSCIOUS CONSIDERATIONS, ADMISSIONS, HIRING, PROMOTION, AND RETENTION DECISIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM ARE TRULY MERIT-BASED, TRANSPARENT, AND AUDITABLE.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-210, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION, SUSPENSION, AND TRANSFER OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO REVISE RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO EXPELLED AND SUSPENDED STUDENTS WHILE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR ATTENDING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND TO REMOVE LIMITATIONS ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-235, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WHO BRING FIREARMS TO SCHOOL, SO AS TO REQUIRE A MINIMUM ONE-YEAR EXPULSION FOR KNOWINGLY BRINGING A FIREARM TO SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR MODIFICATION, REVIEW, AND REINSTATEMENT OF THE EXPULSION PERIOD, TO PRESERVE STUDENT APPEAL RIGHTS, AND TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE OR VIRTUAL SETTINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-237 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WHO MAKE CERTAIN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL, TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR SUCH EXPULSIONS, TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE OR VIRTUAL SETTINGS, AND TO REQUIRE REFERRAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-250, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND DESIGNATED ADMINISTRATORS TO TRANSFER STUDENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN LIEU OF SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, TO REQUIRE PARENT CONFERENCES OR HEARINGS AND NOTICE TO AND INPUT FROM THE RECEIVING SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, AND TO PROVIDE APPEAL RIGHTS FOR TRANSFERS ORDERED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR. - RATIFIED TITLE

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

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 103, TITLE 59 SO AS TO ENTITLE THE ARTICLE "ACCREDITING AGENCIES"; TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; AND TO PROVIDE ACCREDITING AGENCIES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THIS STATE MAY NOT TAKE ACTION ON ACCREDITATION BASED ON CERTAIN FACTORS CONCERNING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION ENGAGEMENT, DATA, OR REQUIRED STATEMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE MEANS OF REDRESS FOR VIOLATIONS.