South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

RATIFICATION OF ACTS

FOR FEBRUARY 25, 2026

Pursuant to an invitation the Honorable Speaker and House of Representatives appeared in the Senate Chamber on February 25, 2026, at 3.00 P.M. and the following Acts and Joint Resolutions were ratified:

(R101, S. 287 (Word version)) -- Senators Alexander, Hutto, Grooms, Verdin, Davis, Turner, Gambrell, Hembree, Cromer, Kimbrell, Elliott, Zell, Ott, Garrett, Graham and Walker: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-95-65 SO AS TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR THE SALE OF ELECTRONIC NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SECTION, AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN TIMELINES AND EFFECTIVE DATES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-17-501, RELATING TO TERMS DEFINED IN THE "YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO PREVENTION ACT," SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF "ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE".

(R102, S. 383 (Word version)) -- Senators Davis, Goldfinch, Graham, Zell and Rankin: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PROTHONOTARY WARBLER RECOGNITION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 1-1-613 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (PROTONOTARIA CITREA) AS THE OFFICIAL STATE MIGRATORY BIRD OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

(R103, S. 415 (Word version)) -- Senators Young, Elliott, Sutton, Ott, Devine, Reichenbach and Zell: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERM "LICENSED"; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-9-1110, RELATING TO ADOPTION BY A STEPPARENT OR RELATIVE, SO AS TO APPLY TO CHILDREN PLACED WITH RELATIVES OR FICTIVE KIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2320, RELATING TO THE KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, SO AS TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE OF A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT FROM TWENTY-ONE TO EIGHTEEN AND TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO USE DIFFERENT STANDARDS WHEN LICENSING RELATIVES AND FICTIVE KIN; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2350, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PLACEMENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2400, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO MAY BE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME, SO AS TO REMOVE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT LIMITATIONS FROM KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS.

(R104, S. 586 (Word version)) -- Senator Graham: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SHALL RECEIVE NINETY DOLLARS FOR EACH MEETING AT WHICH HE IS IN ATTENDANCE AND THAT THE CHAIRMAN SHALL RECEIVE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL NOT OCCUR MORE THAN EIGHTEEN TIMES EACH FISCAL YEAR.

(R105, H. 4257 (Word version)) -- Reps. J.E. Johnson, Lowe, C. Mitchell, Yow, Brittain, Jordan, B. Newton, Caskey, Gilliam, Rankin, Schuessler, Hayes, Guest, Crawford, Gagnon, McCabe, Pedalino and Hiott: 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.

Last Updated: February 25, 2026 at 4:56 PM