NO. 29
REGULAR SESSION BEGINNING TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025
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The House assembled at 12:00 noon.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Jeff Lingerfelt as follows:
Our thought for today is from Psalm 34:15: "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears are open to their cry."
Let us pray: O Lord, our God, you are our ever-blessed Father. You are the Sovereign Ruler of Heaven and Earth. Nothing escapes your control. And nothing is able to fly beneath Your all-knowing and all-powerful omnipotent radar. Your eyes are on the righteous, and your ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Your eyes O Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. Even in this assembly today, You are watching from the throne room of heaven. Our Father, we ask for your divine favor and that it may rule in this place. We, Your leaders, need your help to govern with wisdom the folks entrusted to our care. Our Nation is facing days of uncertainties. Please, O Lord, grant clarity from the White House to our Statehouse and to our House, to ascertain what is best for our Nation and State. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers for your honor, praise, and glory. Amen.
Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE.
After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of Friday, the SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE ordered it confirmed.
Rep. CALHOON moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Dennis Carroll Ballentine, which was agreed to.
The House stood in silent prayer for the family and friends of Dennis Carroll Ballentine, father of Representative Ballentine.
The House stood in silent prayer for the United States military troops around the world.
Rep. HERBKERSMAN, from the Beaufort Delegation, submitted a favorable report on:
H. 5089 (Word version) -- Reps. W. Newton and Herbkersman: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-7-110, RELATING TO DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SO AS TO REDESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE PRECINCTS ARE DELINEATED.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
The following was introduced:
H. 5289 (Word version) -- Reps. Bamberg, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE BAMBERG-EHRHARDT HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A STELLAR SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5290 (Word version) -- Reps. J. L. Johnson, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR FIRST SERGEANT FRED J. GROOMS SR. (RETIRED) FOR HIS LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY, HIS CHURCH, AND HIS NATION.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced: H. 5291 (Word version) -- Reps. Kirby, Atkinson, Hayes, Alexander, Anderson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACHES ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE WIN OF THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced: H. 5292 (Word version) -- Reps. Rose, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE HEATHWOOD HALL EPISCOPAL SCHOOL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM AND COACHING STAFF ON A WONDERFUL SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON WINNING THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION 4A CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5293 (Word version) -- Reps. Rutherford, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026, AS "ETIQUETTE DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA" AND TO COMMEND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM AND ITS STUDENTS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN BECOMING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced: H. 5294 (Word version) -- Reps. G. M. Smith, Weeks, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SUMTER HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION CHAPTER FOR ITS VISION AND SUCCESS AND TO DECLARE FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026, AS "SPEECH AND DEBATE EDUCATION DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced: H. 5295 (Word version) -- Reps. Duncan, Whitmire, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE WEST-OAK HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WRESTLING TEAM ON ITS IMPRESSIVE WIN OF THE 2026 CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO SALUTE THE TEAM ON A SUPERB SEASON.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5296 (Word version) -- Reps. W. Newton, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COURAGE, SERVICE, AND SACRIFICE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT K-9S AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HORSES; TO REMEMBER AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY; AND TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.
The following was introduced:
H. 5297 (Word version) -- Reps. Wooten, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR TAYLOR RIVERS OF RIVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL UPON BEING NAMED THE 2026 HIGH SCHOOL SOLO STATE CHAMPION AT THE 2026 SOUTH CAROLINA DANCE ASSOCIATION STATE DANCE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5298 (Word version) -- Reps. Calhoon, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DENNIS CARROLL BALLENTINE, TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON HIS PASSING, AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5299 (Word version) -- Reps. Davis, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO DECLARE MARCH 2026 AS "COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS OF THE PALMETTO STATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING AND PREVENTION.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5300 (Word version) -- Reps. Burns, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE ELIJAH JENNINGS ON AN AMAZING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON WINNING AN INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL RODEO ASSOCIATION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND HIS FIRST VICTORY AT THE PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS PENDLETON WHISKY VELOCITY TOUR.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5301 (Word version) -- Reps. Huff, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WOODMONT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM UPON WINNING THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA, DIVISION 2 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5302 (Word version) -- Reps. M. M. Smith, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND COMMEND WORLD HARVEST EVANGELIST JACOB EBERSOLE; TO RECOGNIZE MAY 1-3, 2026, AS "CHARLESTON CRUSADE 2026" IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORIC CHRISTIAN HERITAGE OF THIS STATE; AND TO ENCOURAGE THE VOLUNTARY REDEDICATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH PRAYER, REPENTANCE, AND MORAL RENEWAL AMONG ITS CITIZENS.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The following was introduced:
S. 966 (Word version) - Senator Davis: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY, COMMEND THE ORGANIZATION FOR ITS COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.
The following Bill and Joint Resolution were introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committees:
H. 5126 (Word version) -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Without Reference
H. 5127 (Word version) -- Ways and Means Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE MONIES FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, AND TO ALLOW UNEXPENDED FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEARS AND EXPENDED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES.
Without Reference
The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:
Alexander Anderson Atkinson Bailey Bamberg Bannister Bauer Beach Bernstein Bowers Bradley Brewer Brittain Burns Bustos Calhoon Caskey Chapman Chumley Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Collins Cox Crawford Cromer Davis Dillard Duncan Edgerton Erickson Ford Forrest Frank Gagnon Garvin Gatch Gibson Gilliam Gilliard Gilreath Govan Grant Guest Guffey Haddon Hager Hardee Harris Hart Hartnett Hartz Hayes Henderson-Myers Herbkersman Hewitt Hiott Hixon Holman Hosey Howard Huff J. L. Johnson Jones Jordan Kilmartin King Kirby Landing Lastinger Lawson Ligon Long Lowe Luck Magnuson Martin McCabe McCravy McDaniel McGinnis C. Mitchell D. Mitchell Montgomery J. Moore T. Moore Morgan Moss Neese B. Newton W. Newton Oremus Pace Pedalino Pope Rankin Reese Rivers Robbins Rose Rutherford Sanders Schuessler Scott G. M. Smith M. M. Smith Stavrinakis Taylor Teeple Terribile Vaughan Waters Weeks Wetmore White Whitmire Wickensimer Williams Willis Wooten Yow
The SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE granted Rep. SPANN-WILDER a leave of absence for the day due to medical reasons.
The SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE granted Rep. BALLENTINE a leave of absence for the day due to a death in the family.
The SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE granted Rep. SESSIONS a leave of absence for the day due to business reasons.
The SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE granted Rep. J. E. JOHNSON a leave of absence for the day due to a prior commitment.
Announcement was made that Dr. March Seabrook was the Doctor of the Day for the General Assembly.
In accordance with House Rule 5.2 below:
"5.2 Every bill before presentation shall have its title endorsed; every report, its title at length; every petition, memorial, or other paper, its prayer or substance; and, in every instance, the name of the member presenting any paper shall be endorsed and the papers shall be presented by the member to the Speaker at the desk. A member may add his name to a bill or resolution or a co-sponsor of a bill or resolution may remove his name at any time prior to the bill or resolution receiving passage on second reading. The member or co-sponsor shall notify the Clerk of the House in writing of his desire to have his name added or removed from the bill or resolution. The Clerk of the House shall print the member's or co-sponsor's written notification in the House Journal. The removal or addition of a name does not apply to a bill or resolution sponsored by a committee."
Bill Number: H. 3047 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 HADDON
Bill Number: H. 3210 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 ATKINSON
Bill Number: H. 3368 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 YOW and C. MITCHELL
Bill Number: H. 3580 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 HENDERSON-MYERS
Bill Number: H. 4461 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 FORREST
Bill Number: H. 4464 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 KING, KIRBY and REESE
Bill Number: H. 4544 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 M. M. SMITH, COX and DAVIS
Bill Number: H. 4562 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 MAGNUSON and EDGERTON
Bill Number: H. 4763 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 GIBSON
Bill Number: H. 4806 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 WICKENSIMER
Bill Number: H. 4927 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 GRANT
Bill Number: H. 5066 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 WOOTEN
Bill Number: H. 5073 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 HEWITT, HADDON, CROMER, GILREATH and HARTNETT
Bill Number: H. 5179 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 KING
Bill Number: H. 5247 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
03/03/26 KILMARTIN, MCCABE, BEACH, BURNS, MORGAN, CHUMLEY, FRANK, TERRIBILE and DUNCAN
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 3530 (Word version) -- Reps. W. Newton, Pope, Spann-Wilder, Cobb-Hunter, Bernstein, Vaughan, C. Mitchell, Robbins, T. Moore, Henderson-Myers, Gilliard and Williams: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 2-19-115 SO AS TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR MAGISTRATE POSITIONS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER JUDICIAL CANDIDATES UPON VACANCIES, AND TO DEFINE WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-10, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT, TERM AND TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, OR RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND LIMITATIONS ON MAGISTRATES' HOLDOVER STATUS AND TO REQUIRE MAGISTRATES GOING FORWARD TO HOLD A JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE AND BE A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-15, RELATING TO MAGISTRATES PRESENTLY SERVING, SO AS TO GRANDFATHER MAGISTRATES SERVING IN OFFICE ON JUNE 30, 2025; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-10, RELATING TO CIVIL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-550, RELATING TO CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; AND BY REPEALING SECTIONS 22-2-10 AND 22-2-15 RELATING TO A SCREENING COMMITTEE TO ASSIST IN THE SELECTION OF MAGISTRATES AND THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR NONPARTISAN SELECTION OF MAGISTRATES, RESPECTIVELY.
Rep. B. NEWTON moved to adjourn debate on the Bill until Tuesday, March 24, which was agreed to.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4163 (Word version) -- Reps. Erickson, Bowers, Bradley, Crawford, Davis, Pedalino, Hartnett, Neese, M. M. Smith, Oremus, Lawson, Vaughan, Herbkersman, B. J. Cox, Collins, Cox, Forrest, Brewer, Burns, Gatch, Haddon, Hager, Hixon, Murphy, Taylor, Whitmire, Teeple, Guest, Alexander and Robbins: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 9 TO TITLE 59, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS, ORGANIZATION, AND GOVERNANCE OF THE ASSOCIATION; TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS, MAY NOT JOIN OR AFFILIATE WITH ANY OTHER ENTITY WITHIN THE STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNING, SANCTIONING, OR OPERATING INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC PROGRAMS; AND TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS CONCERNING TRANSFER STUDENTS, HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS, PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND APPEALS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
The Committee on Education and Public Works proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 4163 (Word version) (LC-4163.WAB0001H), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
SECTION X. Chapter 9, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-9-125. Within thirty days of being appointed, the SCHSAA director shall appoint a seven-member advisory committee to the SCHSAA Board of Directors. Committee members shall serve for four years and may be reappointed by the director at the conclusion of their respective terms. The advisory committee shall meet regularly as determined by the committee's bylaws and choose its chair from the committee's membership. The advisory committee shall assist the board in carrying out the duties listed in Section 59-9-140. In appointing members, the director must ensure that membership is geographically representative and reflects the association's various classifications. Appointments shall be made as follows:
(1) one member from the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association;
(2) one member from the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association;
(3) one member who is a principal of a South Carolina high school and whose school participates in the association;
(4) one member who is a superintendent of a South Carolina local education agency and whose school participates in the association;
(5) three members who serve as athletic directors at high schools that participate in the association.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. ERICKSON explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Reps. ERICKSON and HAYES proposed the following Amendment No. 2 to H. 4163 (Word version) (LC-4163.WAB0003H):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section and inserting:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina High School League Oversight and Accountability ActSouth Carolina High School Athletic Association Act."
Amend the bill further, by striking SECTIONS 2 and 3 and inserting:
SECTION X. Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-9-110. Effective June 30, 2027, a public school district, including charter schools and their authorizers, may not join, affiliate with, pay dues or fees to, or in any way financially support any interscholastic athletic association, body, or entity unless the constitution, bylaws, rules, or other governing that govern the association, body, or entity contain the following:
(1) A provision requiring that the governing body of the association, body, or entity must be comprised solely of:
(a) one member from each classification selected by a vote of the respective schools, provided that the number of members selected from this item shall not number more than five, whose terms must be set by the body but may not exceed two years;
(b) two members appointed by the Chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chair;
(c) two members appointed by the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chair;
(d) one member appointed by the State Superintendent of Education upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, or its successor, to serve at his pleasure and who shall chair the executive committee;
(e) two members who are current athletic officials, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House and President of the for Senate, for a term of two years;
(f) one member appointed by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association or its successor organization, who shall serve a term of two years; and
(g) two members appointed by Governor, one who must be a current principal upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators or its successor organization and one upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association or its successor organization, each of whom shall serve a term of two years.
(2) A provision requiring that the association, body, or entity be subject to audits performed by the Legislative Audit Council.
(3) A provision requiring that the association, body, or entity shall submit its annual budget to the General Assembly and be subject to appearing before the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee.
(4) A provision requiring that the association, body, or entity must be subject to legislative oversight as provided in Chapter 2, Title 2.
(5) A provision requiring that the commissioner of the association, body, or entity shall file an annual Statement of Economic Interest with the South Carolina Ethics Commission.
(6) A provision requiring that any employment contract with the commissioner of the association, body, or entity may not:
(a) exceed three years; or
(b) contain an automatic rollover provision.
(7) A provision requiring the use of a range of sanctions that:
(a) may be applied to a student, coach, team, or program; and
(b) considers factors such as seriousness, frequency, and other relevant factors when there is a violation of the constitution, bylaws, rules, or other governing provisions of the association, body, or entity.
(8) Provisions concerning private schools and charter schools that:
(a) afford a private school or a charter school the same rights and privileges that are enjoyed by all other members of the association, body, or entity;
(b) prohibit expulsion of a private school or a charter school or the unreasonably withholding of the membership of a private school or a charter school based solely on its status as a private school or a charter school;
(c) prohibit restrictions on the ability of a private school or a charter school to participate in interscholastic athletics including, but not limited to, state playoffs or championships;
(d) require the establishment of reasonable standards for the admission of private schools and charter schools as members of the association, body, or entity; and
(e) require that when a private school or charter school is denied membership in the association, body, or entity, the school must be provided the reason or reasons for the rejection of its application for membership in writing within five business days after the denial.
(9) A provision that guarantees a South Carolina home school athletic team that is a member of a home school athletic association may not be denied access to preseason and regular season interscholastic athletics including, but not limited to, jamborees and invitational tournaments, based solely on its status as a home school athletic team; provided, however, all other rules or policies of the association, body, or entity must apply.
(10) A provision that creates a uniform system applicable to all member schools at the varsity, sub-varsity, junior varsity, and middle school levels that establishes fines for the cancellation of a scheduled contest regardless of whether the contest is in-region or out-of-region, including for the refusal of a member school to schedule a mandatory region contest with another member school within the same region, including, but not limited to, requirements that:
(a) a school which cancels a scheduled contest must be fined an amount equal to the cost incurred for officials, tickets, and concessions or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater; and
(b) a waiver of the fine may be granted only if the contest is rescheduled or cancelled for a documented health or safety reason, in which case the school may not be fined.
(11) A total provision that prohibits students from earning compensation from the use of their names, images, or likenesses (NIL).
(12) A provision that allows an individual student who attends a private school in this State to have the opportunity to try out for and, if selected, participate in an interscholastic athletic program offered at a public school in the district if the:
(a) student resides within the attendance zone boundaries of the public school;
(b) private school which the student attends is not a member of the South Carolina High School League;
(c) private school which the student attends does not offer the particular sport for the student's gender;
(d) particular sport in which the student seeks to participate is offered at the public school located in the attendance zone where the student resides;
(e) student notifies the superintendent of the public school district in writing of his intent to try out in the particular sport as a representative of the public school before the beginning date of the season for the sport in which he wishes to try out;
(f) student pays for all sport-specific fees charged by the public school for an individual student to participate in the particular sport;
(g) student meets all public school district eligibility requirements, except for the:
(i) class and enrollment requirements of the school district; and
(ii) class and enrollment requirements of the association which administers the interscholastic sports;
(h) student and the student's parent or guardian agrees for the student to be subject to the code of conduct of the public school; and
(i) student has not been expelled from the same public school during the same academic year.
(13) A provision that allows the participation of private schools students in interscholastic athletic programs supervised by the entity.
(14) A provision that establishes uniform eligibility requirements for new students to participate in interscholastic athletics. These eligibility requirements may not be more restrictive in language or application than the rules or policies of the association, body, or entity that were in effect on January 1, 2020.
(15) A provision that the association, body, or entity may not apply public school academic, athletic, or extracurricular policies or procedures to any private school that a student attends if the student also participates in a public high school league sport pursuant to the terms of this chapter, except for requirements related to maintaining a certain grade-point average and grade level for participating in and attending regularly scheduled practices of the sports team.
(16) A provision that the association, body, or entity shall establish a multiplier system for the purpose of classification that considers a school's geographic location, student population, and performance in each sport in which it participates.
Section 59-9-120. Notwithstanding any athlete transfer rules and policies adopted by the association, body, or entity, a student who attends a school outside of his attendance zone may immediately participate in interscholastic competitions if the student is otherwise academically eligible and the following conditions are met:
(1) for students enrolled in middle school, the association shall allow a one-time transfer after eligibility is established in the seventh grade; and
(2) for students enrolled in high school, the association shall allow a one-time transfer after eligibility is established in the ninth grade.
Section 59-9-130. (A) The association, body, or entity shall establish an appeals process through which appeals of decisions by the association, body, or entity may be made to a disinterested third-party appellate panel. The panel must consist of seven members who serve four-year terms, with one person appointed by the delegation of each congressional district.
(B)(1) A member of the panel shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. A vacancy on the panel must be filled in the manner of the original appointment.
(2) Members of the appellate panel may not concurrently serve as officers of the association, body, or entity and may not have served as a member of the executive committee within the three-year period immediately preceding their appointment to the appellate panel.
(3) Principals and superintendents may appeal a ruling of the association, body, or entity to the panel. The appellate panel also must provide the final ruling in any appeal brought against a decision of the association, body, or entity.
(C) The association shall establish and ensure a procedure for emergency appeals to be held and decided upon in an expedited manner if the normal appellate process would prohibit the participation of a student, team, program, or school in an athletic event, to include competitions and practices.
Section 59-9-140. (A) There is created the High School Athletics Oversight and Accountability Committee to examine and study the operations and management of the South Carolina High School League and public school athletics.
(B) The committee must consist of nine members, including:
(1) three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;
(2) three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
(3) three members appointed by the Governor.
(C) The Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee shall provide appropriate staffing and meeting facilities for the committee.
(D) The committee shall report findings to the Governor and General Assembly before June 30, 2026, at which time the committee is dissolved.
SECTION X. Section 59-63-100(A)(3) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(3) "Home school student" is a child taught in accordance with Section 59-65-40, 59-65-45, or 59-65-47 and has been taught in accordance with one of these sections for a full academic year prior to participating in an interscholastic activity pursuant to this section. The requirement of being taught for one full academic year as a home school student before being granted eligibility for interscholastic activity is waived if the student attended a public or private school within the previous academic year and was not expelled, assigned to an alternative school for disciplinary reasons, or earned a grade point average of 1.0 or higher.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. ERICKSON explained the amendment.
Rep. ERICKSON moved to adjourn debate on the amendment, which was agreed to.
Rep. HIOTT moved to reconsider the vote whereby Amendment No. 1 was adopted, which was agreed to.
Rep. ERICKSON moved to table the amendment, which was agreed to.
Reps. ERICKSON and HAYES proposed the following Amendment No. 2 to H. 4163 (Word version) (LC-4163.WAB0003H), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section and inserting:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina High School League Oversight and Accountability ActSouth Carolina High School Athletic Association Act."
Amend the bill further, by striking SECTIONS 2 and 3 and inserting:
SECTION X. Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-9-110. Effective June 30, 2027, a public school district, including charter schools and their authorizers, may not join, affiliate with, pay dues or fees to, or in any way financially support any interscholastic athletic association, body, or entity unless the constitution, bylaws, rules, or other governing that govern the association, body, or entity contain the following:
(1) A provision requiring that the governing body of the association, body, or entity must be comprised solely of:
(a) one member from each classification selected by a vote of the respective schools, provided that the number of members selected from this item shall not number more than five, whose terms must be set by the body but may not exceed two years;
(b) two members appointed by the Chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chair;
(c) two members appointed by the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chair;
(d) one member appointed by the State Superintendent of Education upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, or its successor, to serve at his pleasure and who shall chair the executive committee;
(e) two members who are current athletic officials, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House and President of the for Senate, for a term of two years;
(f) one member appointed by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association or its successor organization, who shall serve a term of two years; and
(g) two members appointed by Governor, one who must be a current principal upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators or its successor organization and one upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association or its successor organization, each of whom shall serve a term of two years.
(2) A provision requiring that the association, body, or entity be subject to audits performed by the Legislative Audit Council.
(3) A provision requiring that the association, body, or entity shall submit its annual budget to the General Assembly and be subject to appearing before the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee.
(4) A provision requiring that the association, body, or entity must be subject to legislative oversight as provided in Chapter 2, Title 2.
(5) A provision requiring that the commissioner of the association, body, or entity shall file an annual Statement of Economic Interest with the South Carolina Ethics Commission.
(6) A provision requiring that any employment contract with the commissioner of the association, body, or entity may not:
(a) exceed three years; or
(b) contain an automatic rollover provision.
(7) A provision requiring the use of a range of sanctions that:
(a) may be applied to a student, coach, team, or program; and
(b) considers factors such as seriousness, frequency, and other relevant factors when there is a violation of the constitution, bylaws, rules, or other governing provisions of the association, body, or entity.
(8) Provisions concerning private schools and charter schools that:
(a) afford a private school or a charter school the same rights and privileges that are enjoyed by all other members of the association, body, or entity;
(b) prohibit expulsion of a private school or a charter school or the unreasonably withholding of the membership of a private school or a charter school based solely on its status as a private school or a charter school;
(c) prohibit restrictions on the ability of a private school or a charter school to participate in interscholastic athletics including, but not limited to, state playoffs or championships;
(d) require the establishment of reasonable standards for the admission of private schools and charter schools as members of the association, body, or entity; and
(e) require that when a private school or charter school is denied membership in the association, body, or entity, the school must be provided the reason or reasons for the rejection of its application for membership in writing within five business days after the denial.
(9) A provision that guarantees a South Carolina home school athletic team that is a member of a home school athletic association may not be denied access to preseason and regular season interscholastic athletics including, but not limited to, jamborees and invitational tournaments, based solely on its status as a home school athletic team; provided, however, all other rules or policies of the association, body, or entity must apply.
(10) A provision that creates a uniform system applicable to all member schools at the varsity, sub-varsity, junior varsity, and middle school levels that establishes fines for the cancellation of a scheduled contest regardless of whether the contest is in-region or out-of-region, including for the refusal of a member school to schedule a mandatory region contest with another member school within the same region, including, but not limited to, requirements that:
(a) a school which cancels a scheduled contest must be fined an amount equal to the cost incurred for officials, tickets, and concessions or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater; and
(b) a waiver of the fine may be granted only if the contest is rescheduled or cancelled for a documented health or safety reason, in which case the school may not be fined.
(11) A total provision that prohibits students from earning compensation from the use of their names, images, or likenesses (NIL).
(12) A provision that allows an individual student who attends a private school in this State to have the opportunity to try out for and, if selected, participate in an interscholastic athletic program offered at a public school in the district if the:
(a) student resides within the attendance zone boundaries of the public school;
(b) private school which the student attends is not a member of the South Carolina High School League;
(c) private school which the student attends does not offer the particular sport for the student's gender;
(d) particular sport in which the student seeks to participate is offered at the public school located in the attendance zone where the student resides;
(e) student notifies the superintendent of the public school district in writing of his intent to try out in the particular sport as a representative of the public school before the beginning date of the season for the sport in which he wishes to try out;
(f) student pays for all sport-specific fees charged by the public school for an individual student to participate in the particular sport;
(g) student meets all public school district eligibility requirements, except for the:
(i) class and enrollment requirements of the school district; and
(ii) class and enrollment requirements of the association which administers the interscholastic sports;
(h) student and the student's parent or guardian agrees for the student to be subject to the code of conduct of the public school; and
(i) student has not been expelled from the same public school during the same academic year.
(13) A provision that allows the participation of private schools students in interscholastic athletic programs supervised by the entity.
(14) A provision that establishes uniform eligibility requirements for new students to participate in interscholastic athletics. These eligibility requirements may not be more restrictive in language or application than the rules or policies of the association, body, or entity that were in effect on January 1, 2020.
(15) A provision that the association, body, or entity may not apply public school academic, athletic, or extracurricular policies or procedures to any private school that a student attends if the student also participates in a public high school league sport pursuant to the terms of this chapter, except for requirements related to maintaining a certain grade-point average and grade level for participating in and attending regularly scheduled practices of the sports team.
(16) A provision that the association, body, or entity shall establish a multiplier system for the purpose of classification that considers a school's geographic location, student population, and performance in each sport in which it participates.
Section 59-9-120. Notwithstanding any athlete transfer rules and policies adopted by the association, body, or entity, a student who attends a school outside of his attendance zone may immediately participate in interscholastic competitions if the student is otherwise academically eligible and the following conditions are met:
(1) for students enrolled in middle school, the association shall allow a one-time transfer after eligibility is established in the seventh grade; and
(2) for students enrolled in high school, the association shall allow a one-time transfer after eligibility is established in the ninth grade.
Section 59-9-130. (A) The association, body, or entity shall establish an appeals process through which appeals of decisions by the association, body, or entity may be made to a disinterested third-party appellate panel. The panel must consist of seven members who serve four-year terms, with one person appointed by the delegation of each congressional district.
(B)(1) A member of the panel shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. A vacancy on the panel must be filled in the manner of the original appointment.
(2) Members of the appellate panel may not concurrently serve as officers of the association, body, or entity and may not have served as a member of the executive committee within the three-year period immediately preceding their appointment to the appellate panel.
(3) Principals and superintendents may appeal a ruling of the association, body, or entity to the panel. The appellate panel also must provide the final ruling in any appeal brought against a decision of the association, body, or entity.
(C) The association shall establish and ensure a procedure for emergency appeals to be held and decided upon in an expedited manner if the normal appellate process would prohibit the participation of a student, team, program, or school in an athletic event, to include competitions and practices.
Section 59-9-140. (A) There is created the High School Athletics Oversight and Accountability Committee to examine and study the operations and management of the South Carolina High School League and public school athletics.
(B) The committee must consist of nine members, including:
(1) three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;
(2) three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
(3) three members appointed by the Governor.
(C) The Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee shall provide appropriate staffing and meeting facilities for the committee.
(D) The committee shall report findings to the Governor and General Assembly before June 30, 2026, at which time the committee is dissolved.
SECTION X. Section 59-63-100(A)(3) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(3) "Home school student" is a child taught in accordance with Section 59-65-40, 59-65-45, or 59-65-47 and has been taught in accordance with one of these sections for a full academic year prior to participating in an interscholastic activity pursuant to this section. The requirement of being taught for one full academic year as a home school student before being granted eligibility for interscholastic activity is waived if the student attended a public or private school within the previous academic year and was not expelled, assigned to an alternative school for disciplinary reasons, or earned a grade point average of 1.0 or higher.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. ERICKSON spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. ERICKSON continued speaking.
The amendment was then adopted.
The question recurred to the passage of the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Alexander Anderson Atkinson Bailey Bamberg Bannister Bauer Beach Bernstein Bowers Bradley Brewer Brittain Burns Bustos Calhoon Caskey Chapman Chumley Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Collins Cox Crawford Cromer Davis Dillard Duncan Edgerton Erickson Ford Forrest Frank Gagnon Garvin Gatch Gibson Gilliard Gilreath Grant Guest Guffey Haddon Hager Hardee Harris Hart Hartnett Hayes Herbkersman Hewitt Hiott Hixon Holman Hosey Howard Huff Jones Jordan Kilmartin King Kirby Landing Lastinger Lawson Ligon Long Lowe Luck Magnuson Martin McCravy McGinnis C. Mitchell D. Mitchell Montgomery T. Moore Morgan Moss Neese B. Newton W. Newton Oremus Pace Pedalino Pope Rankin Reese Rivers Robbins Rose Rutherford Sanders Schuessler Scott G. M. Smith M. M. Smith Stavrinakis Taylor Teeple Terribile Vaughan Waters Weeks Wetmore White Whitmire Wickensimer Williams Willis Wooten Yow
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on H. 4163 (Word version). If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.
Rep. Neese
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 3227 (Word version) -- Reps. Gatch and Gilliard: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 38-75-70 SO AS TO REQUIRE INSURERS TO OFFER INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM AN EARTHQUAKE TO ALL POLICIES ISSUED IN THIS STATE.
The Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 3227 (Word version) (LC-3227.PH0003H):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 38-75-70 and inserting:
Section 38-75-70. (A) No policy for residential property insurance may be issued, delivered, or renewed in this State unless the named insured is offered coverage for loss or damage caused by an earthquake.
(B) Insurance coverage for loss or damage caused by an earthquake may be provided in the policy of residential property insurance itself, either by specific policy provision or endorsement, or in a separate policy or certificate of insurance which specifically provides coverage for loss or damage caused by an earthquake.
(C) The offer of insurance coverage for loss or damage caused by an earthquake must contain all of the following language in at least ten point boldface type: "Your residential property insurance policy does not cover loss or damage caused by an earthquake to your home or its contents."
(D) If an insured elects to decline coverage, the insured must sign a waiver, provided by the insurer, which expressly states that the insured is declining coverage for loss or damage caused by an earthquake.If an insurer issues a policy or contract of insurance covering residential property in this State that does not provide coverage for a loss as a result of an earthquake, this must be communicated to the insured at the time of policy issuance and each subsequent renewal. The communication must be in at least ten point boldface type and contain the following language, or something similar: "This residential property insurance policy does not provide coverage for losses as a result of an earthquake. Please contact your insurance agent or insurance carrier to inquire about options to cover a loss resulting from an earthquake."
Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section and inserting:
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governoron January 1, 2027.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. GAGNON explained the amendment.
Reps. CASKEY, HEWITT, COX, FORD, T. MOORE and VAUGHAN requested debate on the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 5179 (Word version) -- Reps. Erickson, McGinnis, Garvin, Grant, Yow, C. Mitchell, Wooten and King: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-440 SO AS TO CREATE THE SCHOOL MAPPING DATA PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING EFFICIENT EMERGENCY RESPONSES IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING BY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DIVISION, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
The Committee on Education and Public Works proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 5179 (Word version) (LC-5179.WAB0002H), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, Section 59-101-440(B), by adding an item to read:
(3) To ensure that campus mapping data used by law enforcement and emergency response agencies remains accurate and current, each public institution of higher learning shall, at least once every two years, review all campus facilities and infrastructure, including athletic facilities and branch campuses, to identify material changes, renovations, additions, or updates and shall report such changes to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the mapping vendor under contract pursuant to this section, provided that nothing herein prohibits more frequent coordination or updates as necessary.
Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, Section 59-101-440, by adding a subsection to read:
(D) In any given fiscal year, the annual cost of maintenance may not exceed fifteen percent of the initial cost of the mapping.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. ERICKSON explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Reps. GATCH, LONG and BAMBERG requested debate on the Bill.
The question recurred to the passage of the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Alexander Anderson Atkinson Bailey Bamberg Bauer Beach Bernstein Bowers Bradley Brewer Brittain Burns Bustos Calhoon Caskey Chapman Chumley Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Collins Cox Crawford Cromer Davis Dillard Duncan Erickson Ford Forrest Gagnon Garvin Gatch Gibson Gilliam Gilliard Gilreath Govan Grant Guest Haddon Hager Hardee Hart Hartnett Hartz Hayes Herbkersman Hewitt Hiott Hixon Holman Hosey Howard Huff Jones Jordan Kilmartin King Kirby Landing Lastinger Lawson Ligon Long Luck Martin McCabe McCravy McDaniel McGinnis C. Mitchell D. Mitchell Montgomery J. Moore T. Moore Moss B. Newton W. Newton Oremus Pedalino Pope Rankin Reese Rivers Robbins Rose Rutherford Sanders Schuessler Scott G. M. Smith M. M. Smith Stavrinakis Taylor Teeple Terribile Vaughan Waters Weeks Wetmore White Whitmire Wickensimer Williams Willis Wooten Yow
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4151 (Word version) -- Reps. W. Newton, G. M. Smith, Hiott, Hixon, Caskey, Robbins, C. Mitchell, Pope, Gagnon, Taylor, Whitmire, B. Newton, Vaughan, Chapman, M. M. Smith, J. E. Johnson, Yow, Bustos, Landing, Gibson, McCravy, Gilliam, Hager, Rankin, Schuessler, Teeple, Erickson, Herbkersman, Hartnett, Wooten, Lawson, Long and Lowe: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-19-20, RELATING TO TERMS DEFINED IN THE "JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE," SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF "CHILD" OR "JUVENILE," TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS FOR MINORS WHO COMMIT CERTAIN VIOLENT CRIMES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Reps. B. NEWTON, GUEST, CASKEY, HEWITT, MARTIN, HIOTT, MAGNUSON, POPE, DUNCAN, LONG, KIRBY and BRITTAIN requested debate on the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4763 (Word version) -- Reps. Oremus, Brittain, W. Newton, Bailey, Bradley, Brewer, Caskey, Crawford, Duncan, Erickson, Forrest, Gagnon, Gatch, Gilliam, Guest, Haddon, Hardee, Hartnett, Hartz, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, J. E. Johnson, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Martin, McCravy, C. Mitchell, B. Newton, Pedalino, Pope, Robbins, Sanders, Schuessler, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Taylor, Teeple, Vaughan, Whitmire, Willis, Wooten, Yow, Terribile, White, Lastinger, Wickensimer, Atkinson, Chapman and Gibson: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "HELPING ALLEVIATE LAWFUL OBSTRUCTION (HALO) ACT"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1092 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER", "FIRST RESPONDER", AND "HARASS", TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO APPROACH, IMPEDE, CAUSE HARM TO, OR HARASS A FIRST RESPONDER OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER AFTER RECEIVING A VERBAL WARNING, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.
Reps. B. NEWTON, HEWITT, HARRIS, MARTIN, T. MOORE, LAWSON, DUNCAN, KING, LUCK, HOSEY, CASKEY and GUEST requested debate on the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 5120 (Word version) -- Reps. Cox, Garvin, Holman, T. Moore, Sessions, Wetmore, C. Mitchell and Yow: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-19-2020, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF JUVENILE RECORDS, SO AS TO CLARIFY WHEN NOTICE ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF A CASE AGAINST A CHILD CHARGED WITH CERTAIN OFFENSES MUST BE PROVIDED TO A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, AND TO CLARIFY WHEN JUVENILE FINGERPRINT RECORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN, HOW THESE RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THESE RECORDS MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO ANOTHER AGENCY OR PERSON; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-19-2030, RELATING TO JUVENILE LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS, SO AS TO CLARIFY WHEN INCIDENT REPORTS ABOUT A CHILD CHARGED WITH CERTAIN OFFENSES MUST BE PROVIDED TO A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
Reps. B. NEWTON, KING, WEEKS, CASKEY, BRITTAIN, C. MITCHELL, MCDANIEL, HOSEY, HEWITT, RIVERS, ANDERSON and WATERS requested debate on the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 5121 (Word version) -- Reps. Cox, Garvin, Holman, T. Moore, Sessions, Wetmore, C. Mitchell and Yow: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 25 TO CHAPTER 19, TITLE 63 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM BY WHICH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE NONPROFIT ENTITIES MAY BE CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO PREVENT JUVENILE CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS BY THE DEPARTMENT, TO ESTABLISH A CIVIL PENALTY FOR THE UNLAWFUL REPRESENTATION OF AN UNCERTIFIED PROGRAM AS CERTIFIED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE NECESSARY REGULATIONS TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
Rep. COX moved to recommit the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, which was agreed to.
Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar.
Rep. FORREST moved that the House recur to the morning hour, which was agreed to.
Rep. STAVRINAKIS, from the Charleston Delegation, submitted a favorable report on:
H. 5060 (Word version) -- Rep. Stavrinakis: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 369 OF 1959, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ST. JOHN'S FIRE DISTRICT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND TO REVISE THE PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE DISTRICT AND TO REPEAL SECTION 2 OF ACT 727 OF 1978.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
The following was introduced:
H. 5303 (Word version) -- Reps. Grant, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA 4-H PINCKNEY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND CONGRATULATE THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE AT ALL LEVELS UPON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF PREPARING THE STATE'S YOUNG PEOPLE FOR LEADERSHIP.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 5073 (Word version) -- Reps. Pedalino, Erickson, Montgomery, McCravy, Pace, Bradley, D. Mitchell, Terribile, Robbins, T. Moore, Sessions, Neese, Brittain, Crawford, Lawson, Edgerton, Chumley, Brewer, Chapman, Vaughan, Guest, Guffey, Cox, W. Newton, McGinnis, B. Newton, McCabe, Rankin, Gagnon, Gibson, J. E. Johnson, Long, Moss, Schuessler, G. M. Smith, White, Oremus, Teeple, Lastinger, Burns, Hewitt, Haddon, Cromer, Gilreath and Hartnett: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADING PRACTICES, TO CONDITION ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT RECOVERY AND CONTENT RECOVERY ON COMPLETION OF REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS, TO LIMIT THE USE OF CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS IN CALCULATING FINAL COURSE GRADES, TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT THROUGH WITHHOLDING OF STATE AID TO CLASSROOM FUNDS, 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.
The Committee on Education and Public Works proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 5073 (Word version) (LC-5073.WAB0001H), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-29-250(B) and inserting:
(B) Grades that reflect actual student performance are essential for maintaining academic standards and accountability. No school district or school may adopt any type of grading system that requires a teacher to assign a minimum grade or score that exceeds the student's actual performance on completed assignments. If a school district is found to be in violation of this section, the State Department of Education shall withhold ten percent of the school district's State Aid to Classroom funding.
Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-29-250(F) and inserting:
(F) Prior to the start of the 2026-2027 School Year, the State Board of Education is directed to establish a task force comprised of superintendents, principals, teachers, representatives of school boards, and high school students to evaluate potential revisions to the Uniform Grading Policy in order to enhance the utility of grades in evaluating college and career readiness, ensure high school grade point averages are meaningful indicators of academic achievement, and reduce the need for and use of credit recovery and content recovery programs. The task force shall make recommendations to the board for potential revisions in areas including, but not limited to, the use of term weighting in calculating final student grades, the method of awarding quality points on the basis of unique numeric final course averages when calculating student grade point averages, and the use of a 100-point grading scale. The task force shall report its findings to the State Board of Education before FebruaryJune 1, 2027. The State Board of Education shall then adopt, and school districts shall implement, any updates to the Uniform Grading Policy by no later than the 2028-2029 School Year.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. ERICKSON explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. ERICKSON explained the Bill.
Reps. MCDANIEL, KING, J. L. JOHNSON, REESE, GILLIARD, WATERS, RIVERS, ANDERSON, DILLARD and JONES requested debate on the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4468 (Word version) -- Reps. Erickson, Pedalino and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-33-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BY ITS RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, COMPOSITION, DUTIES, AND PURPOSES OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS; TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS; AND TO PROVIDE DEADLINES FOR THE CREATION OF RELATED MODEL BYLAWS, THE SUBMISSION OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL BYLAWS FOR APPROVAL, AND THE FIRST MEETINGS OF EACH LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.
The Committee on Education and Public Works proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 4468 (Word version) (LC-4468.WAB0001H), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-33-55(A)(2)(e) and inserting:
(e) a special education teacher employed in a school in the district or a school of the authorizertwo special education teachers who must be employed by the school district or by a school of the authorizer, one of whom works with students in grades K-8 and one of whom works with students in grades 9-12; and
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. ERICKSON explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
The question recurred to the passage of the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Anderson Atkinson Bailey Bamberg Bannister Bauer Bernstein Bowers Bradley Brewer Brittain Burns Bustos Calhoon Caskey Chapman Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Collins Cox Crawford Davis Dillard Duncan Erickson Ford Forrest Frank Gagnon Garvin Gatch Gibson Gilliam Gilliard Gilreath Govan Grant Guest Guffey Haddon Hager Hardee Hart Hartnett Hartz Hayes Herbkersman Hewitt Hiott Hixon Holman Hosey Howard Huff J. L. Johnson Jones King Kirby Landing Lawson Ligon Long Luck Martin McCravy McGinnis C. Mitchell D. Mitchell Montgomery J. Moore T. Moore Moss Neese B. Newton W. Newton Oremus Pedalino Pope Rankin Reese Rivers Robbins Schuessler Scott G. M. Smith M. M. Smith Stavrinakis Taylor Teeple Terribile Vaughan Waters Weeks Wetmore Whitmire Wickensimer Williams Willis Wooten Yow
Those who voted in the negative are:
Beach Chumley Cromer Edgerton Kilmartin Lastinger Magnuson McCabe Morgan Pace White
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. FORD withdrew his request for debate on H. 3227 (Word version); however, other requests for debate remained on the Bill.
On motion of Rep. STAVRINAKIS, with unanimous consent, the following Bill was ordered recalled from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry:
H. 3474 (Word version) -- Rep. Stavrinakis: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 58-23-1610, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "PERSONAL VEHICLE"; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 58-23-1610, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "PREARRANGED RIDE."
Rep. CROMER asked unanimous consent to recall H. 5167 (Word version) from the Committee on Ways and Means.
Rep. KING objected.
The SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE granted Rep. MORGAN a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.
The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:
H. 3798 (Word version) -- Reps. Murphy, G. M. Smith, Brewer, T. Moore, Guest, Hager, Yow, C. Mitchell, W. Newton, Lawson, Stavrinakis, Govan, Erickson, Bradley, Weeks, Hart, Williams, Rivers and Gilliard: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 25-1-180 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR MILITARY CHAPLAINS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT MILITARY CHAPLAINS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS.
Rep. T. MOORE explained the Senate Amendments.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Anderson Bailey Bamberg Bannister Bauer Beach Bernstein Bowers Bradley Brewer Brittain Burns Bustos Calhoon Caskey Chapman Chumley Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Collins Cox Crawford Cromer Davis Dillard Duncan Edgerton Erickson Ford Forrest Frank Gagnon Garvin Gatch Gibson Gilliam Gilliard Gilreath Govan Grant Guest Guffey Haddon Hager Hardee Harris Hart Hartnett Hartz Hayes Herbkersman Hewitt Hiott Hixon Holman Hosey Huff J. L. Johnson Jones Kilmartin King Kirby Landing Lastinger Lawson Ligon Long Luck Magnuson Martin McCabe McCravy McDaniel McGinnis C. Mitchell D. Mitchell Montgomery J. Moore T. Moore Moss Neese B. Newton W. Newton Oremus Pace Pedalino Pope Rankin Reese Rivers Robbins Rose Rutherford Sanders Schuessler Scott G. M. Smith M. M. Smith Stavrinakis Taylor Teeple Terribile Vaughan Waters Weeks Wetmore White Whitmire Wickensimer Williams Willis Wooten Yow
Those who voted in the negative are:
The Senate Amendments were agreed to, and the Bill having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled for ratification.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4762 (Word version) -- Reps. Long, Bailey, Brewer, Caskey, Chapman, Crawford, Davis, Forrest, Gatch, Gilliam, Guest, Haddon, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Lawson, Ligon, Lowe, McCravy, C. Mitchell, T. Moore, W. Newton, Oremus, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Robbins, Sanders, Schuessler, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Taylor, Vaughan, Whitmire, Willis, Wooten, Yow, B. Newton, Chumley, Edgerton, Magnuson, White, Lastinger, D. Mitchell, Cromer and Gilreath: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-335 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT CERTAIN VOLUNTEER SCHOOL CHAPLAIN POLICIES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND OTHER HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND POSTSECONDARY CLASSROOMS.
The Bill was read the third time and ordered sent to the Senate.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 583 (Word version) -- Senators Davis, Massey and Johnson: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-19-250, RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS REQUIRED FOR LICENSEES OF THE BOARD OF FUNERAL EXAMINERS, SO AS TO REVISE PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION INSTRUCTION, AND TO DEFINE "PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE."
The Bill was read the third time and ordered returned to the Senate with amendments.
Rep. HIOTT moved that the House do now adjourn, which was agreed to.
At 2:06 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. CALHOON, adjourned in memory of Dennis Carroll Ballentine, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
This web page was last updated on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 4:17 P.M.