A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 12 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO CREATE THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND POLICY TO INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH FINANCING, PUBLIC HEALTH, AGING, INTELLECTUAL AND RELATED DISABILITIES, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE OFFICE; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-30-10, RELATING TO DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-370, RELATING TO THE MEDIATION OF GRIEVANCES BY THE STATE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, SO AS TO ADD THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND POLICY AND CERTAIN STAFF OF THE COMPONENT DEPARTMENTS; BY REPEALING CHAPTER 49 OF TITLE 44 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE SERVICES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-1-20, 44-1-80, 44-1-90, 44-1-100, 44-1-110, 44-1-130, 44-1-140, 44-1-151, 44-1-152, 44-1-165, 44-1-170, 44-1-180, 44-1-190, 44-1-200, 44-1-210, 44-1-215, 44-1-220, 44-1-230, 44-1-260, 44-1-280, 44-1-290, 44-1-300, AND 44-1-310, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-1-315, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; BY REPEALING SECTIONS 44-1-30, 44-1-40, 44-1-50, 44-1-70, 44-1-143, 44-1-145, AND 44-1-148 ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH; BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44, AND SECTIONS 44-6-140, 44-6-146, 44-6-150, 44-6-170, 44-6-190, 44-6-400, 44-6-530, 44-6-540, 44-6-720, 44-6-730, AND 44-6-1010, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES PERTAINING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FINANCING; BY REPEALING ARTICLE 5 OF CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-7-77, 44-7-80, 44-7-84, 44-7-90, 44-7-130, 44-7-150, 44-7-170, 44-7-190, 44-7-200, 44-7-210, 44-7-260, 44-7-265, 44-7-266, 44-7-370, 44-7-392, 44-7-510, 44-7-570, 44-7-1420, 44-7-1440, 44-7-1490, 44-7-1590, 44-7-1660, 44-7-1690, 44-7-2420, 44-7-2430, 44-7-2450, 44-7-2460, 44-7-2550, 44-7-2910, 44-7-2940, 44-7-3430, 44-7-3455, AND 44-7-3460, ALL RELATING TO HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH SERVICES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY REPEALING SECTION 44-7-180 RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING COMMITTEE; BY AMENDING CHAPTER 9, TITLE 44, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES PERTAINING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; BY ADDING SECTIONS 44-9-95 AND 44-9-105 SO AS TO ADD TO THE CHAPTER PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO SERVICES AND TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND TO ADDRESS SERVICE CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SERVICE PROVIDERS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-20-10, 44-20-20, 44-20-30, 44-20-210, 44-20-220, 44-20-230, 44-20-240, 44-20-250, 44-20-255, 44-20-260, 44-20-270, 44-20-280, 44-20-290, 44-20-300, 44-20-310, 44-20-320, 44-20-330, 44-20-340, 44-20-350, 44-20-355, 44-20-360, 44-20-365, 44-20-370, 44-20-375, 44-20-378, 44-20-380, 44-20-385, 44-20-390, 44-20-400, 44-20-410, 44-20-420, 44-20-430, 44-20-440, 44-20-490, 44-20-510, 44-20-710, 44-20-740, 44-20-900, AND ARTICLE 7, CHAPTER 20, TITLE 44, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES PERTAINING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTELLECTUAL AND RELATED DISABILITIES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-20-372 SO AS TO ADDRESS SERVICE CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTELLECTUAL AND RELATED DISABILITIES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 43-21-10, 43-21-20, 43-21-40, 43-21-60, 43-21-70, 43-21-80, 43-21-100, 43-21-110, 43-21-120, 43-21-130, AND 43-21-140, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT ON AGING, ALL SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 48-6-60, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

S 1018 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SO AS TO ADD THE CLASSIC LEARNING TEST AS AN APPROVED ASSESSMENT FOR RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO THE LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO AMEND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "TALENTED AND QUALIFIED RESIDENT" TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program

S 0163 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 47 TO TITLE 34 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A GOVERNING AUTHORITY FROM ACCEPTING OR REQUIRING PAYMENT USING CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY OR PARTICIPATING IN A TEST OF CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY; TO PERMIT INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES USING DIGITAL CURRENCY FOR TRANSACTIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT DIGITAL ASSETS MAY NOT BE SINGLED OUT FOR DISPARATE TAX TREATMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT DIGITAL CURRENCY TRANSACTION MAY BE TAXED IF THE TAXATION IS THE SAME AS IF THE TRANSACTION USED UNITED STATES LEGAL TENDER; TO PROVIDE THAT DIGITAL CURRENCY OPERATIONS MAY BE NOT BE SUBJECTED TO DISPARATE ZONING TREATMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT DIGITAL ASSET MINING BUSINESS OPERATIONS SHALL NOT PLACE ANY ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE ELECTRICAL GRID FOR WHICH THEY ARE CONNECTED AND TO PROVIDE THAT DIGITAL MINING BUSINESSES MUST PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION UPON REQUEST; TO PROVIDE THAT THOSE ENGAGED IN DIGITAL MINING OPERATIONS DO NOT HAVE TO OBTAIN CERTAIN LICENSES AND THAT THOSE WHO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES RELATED TO DIGITAL MINING OR STAKING ARE NOT OFFERING A SECURITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN PROSECUTE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO OR BUSINESS THAT FRAUDULENTLY CLAIM TO BE OFFERING DIGITAL ASSET MINING AS SERVICE OR STAKING AS A SERVICE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

Cryptocurrency

H 5216 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 6-10-30, RELATING TO THE ADOPTION OF THE 2009 EDITION OF THE ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, SO AS TO LIMIT ITS APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCTION FALLING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 6-10-40, RELATING TO APPEAL BY LOCAL JURISDICTION FOR VARIANCE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODES COUNCIL, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT STATEWIDE MODIFICATIONS NOT FALLING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE MAY BE MADE IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER BUILDING CODES.

Energy

S 0895 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-130, RELATING TO STATE HEALTH FACILITY LICENSURE ACT DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD TO THE DEFINITION OF "HOSPITAL" ALL HOSPITALS THAT CONVERT TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS.

Rural Emergency Hospitals

H 5309 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 64 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO ENACT THE "INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY COMPACT," TO PROVIDE THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HEREBY ENTERS THE COMPACT WITH ANY AND ALL STATES LEGALLY JOINING THEREIN ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE COMPACT, AND TO ADOPT THE TERMS OF THE COMPACT IN ITS SUBSTANTIAL FORM.

Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact

H 3197 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE WORKFORCE READINESS GOAL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-245 SO AS TO PROVIDE REMEDIATION IN COURSES IN LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEEKING POST-SECONDARY STUDIES BUT LACKING REQUISITE ACADEMIC PREPARATION, TO PROVIDE THIS COURSEWORK MAY BE USED TO MEET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM; BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SHALL COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO TRANSFER PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCTING THESE EVALUATIONS AND PRODUCING THIS REPORT CARD TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-140 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE SHALL MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF COLLEGE MAJORS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Workforce readiness