South CarolinaH 4163126th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 9 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, OR ENTITIES AS A CONDITION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZERS TO JOIN, AFFILIATE WITH, PAY DUES OR FEES TO, OR OTHERWISE PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SUCH ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, OR ENTITIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-2-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, SO AS TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF "AGENCY" TO INCLUDE OTHER ENTITIES AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 2-15-50, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL, SO AS TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF "STATE AGENCIES" TO INCLUDE ANY INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, BODY, OR ENTITY AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW.

Sponsored By: Shannon S. Erickson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

South Carolina High School Athletic Association

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Wider student access to school sports

Starting May 18, 2026, a one‑time school transfer lets a student play right away if academically eligible (after 7th grade for middle school or 9th grade for high school). Beginning June 30, 2027, private‑school students can try out for the public school in their home zone if their private school is not in the state league and does not offer the sport for that gender. Families must give written notice before the season, pay sport‑specific fees, follow the public school’s code of conduct, and private‑school players may be no more than 10% of a team. Homeschool teams that belong to a homeschool association cannot be kept out of preseason and regular‑season events just for being homeschool teams. Associations must follow eligibility decisions by the State Department and State Board of Education. Rules for new students cannot be stricter than those in place on January 1, 2020. Associations may not apply most public‑school policies to a private school, except GPA, grade level, and practice attendance rules.

Independent appeals and fairer penalties

Starting May 18, 2026, an independent seven‑member appeals panel hears challenges to association decisions. One member comes from each congressional district delegation. An appeal pauses any sanction, and emergency appeals must be available. By June 30, 2027, associations must also list clear sanctions and consider how serious and frequent a violation is before punishing a student, coach, team, or program.

Schools join only well-run sports associations

Starting June 30, 2027, public school districts, charter schools, and charter authorizers may only join or fund an association whose rules meet the state’s new standards. The governing board must include representatives from each classification, two House and two Senate appointees, the State Superintendent, and private, charter, and middle‑school seats. The commissioner’s contract may last no more than three years and cannot auto‑renew or be renewed each year early. Private and charter schools must get equal rights as members, and if membership is denied, the association must give written reasons within five business days.

Stronger state oversight of school sports

South Carolina now treats interscholastic athletic associations like state agencies for audits and oversight. Starting May 18, 2026, any association that spends or holds state money falls under Legislative Audit Council review. Beginning June 30, 2027, associations that seek public‑school members are subject to full audits, annual budget submission to the General Assembly, and Chapter 2 legislative oversight. The commissioner must file a yearly Statement of Economic Interest with the Ethics Commission.

New classifications and cancellation fines

Beginning June 30, 2027, associations must classify schools using a multiplier system that counts location, total student population (including out‑of‑zone students), roster size for safety, and sport performance. A school with satellite campuses counts as one school. Also, if a school cancels a scheduled contest, it must pay a fine equal to event costs for officials, tickets, and concessions or $1,000, whichever is higher. A waiver is allowed only if the game is rescheduled or canceled for documented health or safety reasons.

Student NIL pay banned in sports

Beginning June 30, 2027, any association that public schools join must ban student‑athletes from being paid for their name, image, or likeness. This rule applies to leagues that public school districts, charter schools, or their authorizers join or support.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Shannon S. Erickson

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Terry Alexander

    Democrat • House

  • B.J. Cox

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Brandon L. Cox

    Republican • House

  • Phillip Bowers

    Republican • House

  • Jeff Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Gary S. Brewer, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • James Mikell "Mike" Burns

    Republican • House

  • Neal A. Collins

    Republican • House

  • Heather Ammons Crawford

    Republican • House

  • Sylleste H. Davis

    Republican • House

  • Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Gil Gatch

    Republican • House

  • Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Patrick B. Haddon

    Republican • House

  • William "Bill" Hager

    Republican • House

  • Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • William G. "Bill" Herbkersman

    Republican • House

  • William M. "Bill" Hixon

    Republican • House

  • M. Brian Lawson

    Republican • House

  • Marvin "Mark" Smith

    Republican • House

  • Murphy

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mike M. Neese

    Republican • House

  • Melissa Lackey Oremus

    Republican • House

  • Fawn M. Pedalino

    Republican • House

  • Robby Robbins

    Republican • House

  • Bill Taylor

    Republican • House

  • James E. Teeple

    Republican • House

  • David Vaughan

    Republican • House

  • William R. "Bill" Whitmire

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 500 • No: 29

House vote • 5/13/2026

(South Carolina High School Athletic Association)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 112 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/7/2026

(South Carolina High School Athletic Association)3rd Reading

Yes: 24 • No: 17

Senate vote • 5/6/2026

(South Carolina High School Athletic Association)2nd Reading

Yes: 28 • No: 12

House vote • 3/3/2026

(South Carolina High School Athletic Association)Passage of Bill

Yes: 112 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

(South Carolina High School Athletic Association)Passage of Bill

Yes: 112 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

(South Carolina High School Athletic Association)Passage of Bill

Yes: 112 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 187

    6/2/2026legislature
  2. Effective date 05/18/26

    6/2/2026legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/18/2026Governor
  4. Ratified R 190

    5/14/2026legislature
  5. Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-0

    5/13/2026House
  6. Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled

    5/13/2026House
  7. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/7/2026legislature
  8. Roll call Ayes-24 Nays-17

    5/7/2026Senate
  9. Read third time and returned to House with amendments

    5/7/2026Senate
  10. Amended

    5/7/2026Senate
  11. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/7/2026legislature
  12. Roll call Ayes-28 Nays-12

    5/6/2026Senate
  13. Read second time

    5/6/2026Senate
  14. Committee Amendment Adopted

    5/6/2026Senate
  15. Special order, set for May 5, 2026

    5/5/2026Senate
  16. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education

    4/21/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Education

    3/4/2026Senate
  18. Introduced

    3/4/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and sent to Senate

    3/4/2026House
  20. Scrivener's error corrected

    3/4/2026legislature
  21. Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-0

    3/3/2026House
  22. Read second time

    3/3/2026House
  23. Amended

    3/3/2026House
  24. Debate adjourned until Tues., 3-3-26

    2/24/2026House
  25. Scrivener's error corrected

    2/19/2026legislature

Bill Text

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