All Roll Calls
Yes: 261 • No: 0
South CarolinaH 4738126th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATOR TRAINING, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE GOVERNOR'S TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO REVISE DUTIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-53-40, RELATING TO COLLEGE PARALLEL COURSES AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, SO AS TO REMOVE RELATED BUDGETARY REVIEW REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-40, RELATING TO THE CONVERSION FROM THE QUARTER CALENDAR SYSTEM TO THE SEMESTER CALENDAR SYSTEM BY THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING 59-143-10, RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN FUNDS FROM THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ENDOWMENT, SO AS TO REMOVE SPECIFIC TIMES FOR RELEASING THE FUNDS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-143-30, RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION FORMULA FOR CERTAIN FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO STUDENTS ATTENDING INDEPENDENT COLLEGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE FORMULA; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-355, RELATING TO EDUCATION LOTTERY APPROPRIATIONS AND USES, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-380, RELATING TO THE GRIEVANCE AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL PROCEDURE FOR ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO THE COMMISSION; BY REPEALING CHAPTER 51 OF TITLE 11 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE ACT; BY REPEALING SECTION 39-9-230 RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE WITH ASSISTANCE BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-54-20 RELATING TO THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-340 RELATING TO ALLOCATION OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR A CERTAIN INVESTMENT INITIATIVE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-360 RELATING TO CERTAIN REVENUE FROM TAX ON CATALOG SALES CREDITABLE TO MAIL ORDER SALES TAX FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-50 RELATING TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF PRIVATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-120 RELATING TO THE ACCREDITATION AND CHARTERING OF CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGES; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-162 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-210 RELATING TO THE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-230 RELATING TO THE ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS PROGRAM; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-410 RELATING TO THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-420 RELATING TO CRITERIA FOR RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND USES; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-430 RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS FOR THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND TO BE MADE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-440 RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-105-60 RELATING TO THE MODEL SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY CREATED BY THE CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT INFORMATION ACT; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-111-75 RELATING TO THE COLLEGE LOAN PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-121-15 RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITADEL TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE INSTITUTION; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-127-75 RELATING TO THE FELTON-LABORATORY SCHOOL AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-150-380 RELATING TO THE EDUCATION LOTTERY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS.
Sponsored By: Shannon S. Erickson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Commission on Higher Education
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 6 costs, 3 mixed.
Stronger grievance rights for faculty
Colleges must have written annual reviews and grievance procedures for academic employees. You get a written evaluation, a review meeting, and clear rules on appraisal records. You have a right to a hearing with counsel and an appeal to the governing board. Tenured or permanent staff can be dismissed only for cause. New schools must submit procedures within six months.
Annual report card on teacher training
The state creates a yearly online Educator Preparation Report Card. It shows completers, placement and 1-, 3-, and 5-year retention, performance results, diversity, clinical quality, teacher effectiveness, and graduate and employer satisfaction. It is posted on the Education and Higher Education Commission websites before November 1 each year.
National Guard college loan ends
The state College Loan Program for National Guard members is repealed on May 18, 2026. Guard members lose that loan option for college costs.
Teacher scholarships and loans end
The Governor’s Teaching Scholarship Loan Program ends on May 18, 2026. The Education Lottery Teaching Scholarship Grants are also repealed on May 18, 2026. Future teachers can no longer get these state awards after that date.
Research funds and programs repealed
The state repeals the Research Investment Fund and its rules, reports, and allocation formulas. It also repeals the Research University Infrastructure Act and ends the Competitive Grants and Endowed Professorships programs. Universities lose these statutory funding tools and may see less research support.
New limits on transfer courses and approvals
Technical colleges without an approved transfer program must limit transfer courses to those that support approved nontransfer programs. The Higher Education Commission sets rules and which courses are acceptable for transfer. All college parallel courses and associate degrees need Commission approval and can be ended by the Commission. The law also removes the state rule for accrediting and chartering chiropractic colleges.
Scholarship funding rules and protections
Half of state scholarship funds go to Need-based Grants and half to Palmetto Fellows. Students at independent (private) colleges get a share equal to their share of resident full-time enrollment; money flows through the Tuition Grants Commission. Total funds for these grants cannot exceed last year’s earned revenue, but unspent balances and interest can be used. Excess lottery proceeds and earnings are carried forward to fully fund LIFE, Palmetto Fellows, and HOPE. The Higher Education Commission can move funds to make payments on time; if lottery revenue falls, other items are cut before these scholarships.
Felton Lab School statute repealed
The statute for the Felton‑Laboratory School at South Carolina State University is repealed on May 18, 2026. Families no longer have that law in place; school rules depend on other laws and the school.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership repealed
The state ends the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership on May 18, 2026. Manufacturers lose state‑backed technical help under this statute.
Campus sexual assault model repealed
The law repeals the model campus sexual assault policy on May 18, 2026. Colleges no longer follow that statutory model. Students may see different campus policies.
Old higher-ed budget rules repealed
The state repeals old rules for allocating funds to a higher‑ed initiative and crediting catalog sales tax to a special fund. These budget mechanics are removed; any effects depend on later budget choices.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Shannon S. Erickson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/29/2026
(Commission on Higher Education)2nd Reading
Yes: 43 • No: 0
House vote • 3/26/2026
(Commission on Higher Education)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
House vote • 3/26/2026
(Commission on Higher Education)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 188
6/2/2026legislatureEffective date 05/18/26
6/2/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
5/18/2026GovernorRatified R 201
5/14/2026legislatureRead third time and enrolled
4/30/2026SenateRoll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
4/29/2026SenateRead second time
4/29/2026SenateCommittee report: Favorable Education
4/21/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Education
3/31/2026SenateIntroduced and read first time
3/31/2026SenateRead third time and sent to Senate
3/27/2026HouseUnanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
3/26/2026HouseRoll call Yeas-109 Nays-0
3/26/2026HouseRead second time
3/26/2026HouseAmended
3/26/2026HouseCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works
3/25/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Education and Public Works
1/13/2026HouseIntroduced and read first time
1/13/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Education and Public Works
12/16/2025HousePrefiled
12/16/2025House
Bill Text
Introduced
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