South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 5653

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Scott
Document Path: LC-0427HDB26.docx

Introduced in the House on May 5, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on May 12, 2026
Passed by the General Assembly on May 14, 2026

Summary: Lee County School District Board of Trustees

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
5/5/2026 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 14)
5/5/2026 House Referred to Lee Delegation (House Journal-page 14)
5/6/2026 House Committee report: Favorable Lee Delegation (House Journal-page 8)
5/7/2026 House Read second time (House Journal-page 16)
5/7/2026 House Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 16)
5/7/2026 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 18)
5/8/2026 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 1)
5/12/2026 Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on local & uncontested calendar (Senate Journal-page 7)
5/13/2026 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 44)
5/14/2026 Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 96)
5/15/2026 Ratified R 263
5/19/2026 Signed By Governor

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/5/2026
5/6/2026
5/6/2026-A
5/12/2026


NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(R263, H5653)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD BY WHICH PERSONS FILE TO BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD, THE MANNER IN WHICH BOARD ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH VACANCIES ON THE BOARD ARE FILLED; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Board of trustees

SECTION 1.    Section 1 of Act 843 of 1952, as last amended by Act 278 of 1979, is amended to read:

Section 1.    (A) The central authority of Lee County's educational system shall be the county board of education consisting of seven members. One member shall be elected from and be a resident of each of the single-member election districts from which members of the county council are elected.

(B) Members shall be elected in nonpartisan elections held at the same time as the general election in November of each even-numbered year for terms of four years and assume office on January second of the year following election and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Members from districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 must be elected in 2028 until their successors are elected and qualify. Members from districts 4, 5, and 6 must be elected in 2030 and until their successors are elected and qualify.

(C) All persons desiring to qualify as a candidate and be elected to the board shall file a statement of intention of candidacy with the Lee County Board of Voter Registration and Elections as provided in Section 7-13-352.

(D) A vacancy on the board must be filled by appointment upon a majority vote of the Lee County Legislative Delegation for the unexpired portion of the term.

(E) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each member of the board may receive compensation in an amount not to exceed six thousand dollars annually. The board may, by majority vote, increase the compensation of its members; provided, any increase in compensation may not take effect until the commencement of the next term of office for those members.

(F) The board is hereby constituted the Board of Trustees for the School District of Lee County with all the powers and responsibilities as prescribed in Section 59-15-10 of the S.C. Code.

Time effective

SECTION 2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2026.

______________________________________________________________________

President of the Senate

_____________________________________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2026.

____________________________________________________________________

Governor

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This web page was last updated on May 15, 2026 at 5:21 PM