South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 863
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Grooms, Cromer, Martin, Bennett, Rankin, Tedder, Sutton and Matthews
Companion/Similar bill(s): 5177
Document Path: SR-0511KM26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 28, 2026
Introduced in the House on April 2, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on Ways and Means
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 1/28/2026 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 1/28/2026 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Education (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 1/28/2026 | Scrivener's error corrected | |
| 3/25/2026 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable Education (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 4/1/2026 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 45) |
| 4/1/2026 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-2 (Senate Journal-page 45) |
| 4/1/2026 | Senate | Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (Senate Journal-page 45) |
| 4/2/2026 | Senate | Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 4/2/2026 | House | Introduced and read first time |
| 4/2/2026 | House | Referred to Committee on Ways and Means |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/28/2026
01/28/2026-A
03/25/2026
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Committee Report
March 25, 2026
S. 863
Introduced by Senators Grooms, Cromer, Martin, Bennett, Rankin, Tedder and Sutton
S. Printed 3/25/26--S.
Read the first time January 28, 2026
________
The committee on Senate Education
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 863) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-103-15, relating to the State's mission and goals for higher education, so as to provide for an Applied, etc., respectfully
Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
GREG HEMBREE for Committee.
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A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-103-15, RELATING TO THE STATE'S MISSION AND GOALS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN CULINARY ARTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE FROM INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE STATE TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-103-15, RELATING TO FUNDING FOR CERTAIN DEGREES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN CULINARY ARTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAMS ARE ONLY ALLOWED IF STATE FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED TO FUND THE PROGRAMS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-103-15(B)(5)(e) and (f) of the S.C. Code are amended to read:
(e) continue to remain technical, vocational, or occupational colleges with a mission as stated in item (4) and primarily focused on technical education and the economic development of the State; and
(f) subject to subsection (C), an Applied Baccalaureate in Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher Education.; and
(g) subject to subsection (C), an Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher Education.
SECTION 2. Section 59-103-15(C) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(C) Notwithstanding subsection (B), the degrees set forth in subsection (B)(3)(e), (f), (g), and (h), and subsection (B)(5)(f) and (g) are only allowed so long as new state general funds are not appropriated for the operations of the degree program.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on March 25, 2026 at 10:30 PM