# South Carolina H 4756: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE VARIOUS MEASURES TO PROMOTE AND ENSURE PRIVACY AMONG SEXES USING CERTAIN FACILITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS. South Carolina H 4756, AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE VARIOUS MEASURES TO PROMOTE AND ENSURE PRIVACY AMONG SEXES USING CERTAIN FACILITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS., is a 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Act No. 152) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4756-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: South Carolina H 4756 - State: South Carolina - Session: 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE VARIOUS MEASURES TO PROMOTE AND ENSURE PRIVACY AMONG SEXES USING CERTAIN FACILITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-12-16 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Act No. 152 - Sponsor: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican) - Cosponsors: 66 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 12 (849 yes, 356 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Right to sue schools for violations: benefit, low. You can sue a public school or college that lets the opposite sex use your sex-designated restroom or changing area, or that fails to post signs or take reasonable steps to stop it. You can also sue if you are forced to share sleeping quarters with the opposite sex. You must file within two years.… - Same-sex housing and trip lodging rules: benefit, low. On school or college trips with shared overnight lodging, students cannot be required to share sleeping rooms or multi-stall restrooms or changing areas with the opposite sex. Family members are an exception. Public colleges that offer housing must let students choose housing only with people of th… - Schools and colleges face 25% holdback: cost, medium. If a school district breaks this law, the State Board of Education directs the Department of Education to withhold 25% of state operating funds until the district complies. If a public college breaks this law, the Commission on Higher Education withholds 25% of state operating funds until it compli… - Restroom rules by sex and single-user options: mixed, medium. The law sets restroom, locker room, and similar spaces by sex in all public schools and colleges. Multi-stall rooms must be for one sex at a time, and people may not enter rooms set for the other sex. Schools must offer at least one single-user restroom or a similar accommodation, and give separate… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brandon Newton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William H. Bailey (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Nathan Ballentine (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Phillip Bowers (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gary S. Brewer, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: T. Case Brittain, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Joseph M. "Joe" Bustos (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Cody T. Mitchell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Donald G. "Don" Chapman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Chumley (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Heather Ammons Crawford (Republican), House - Cosponsor: April Cromer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Dianne Mitchell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Sylleste H. Davis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Adam L. Duncan (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Sarita L. Edgerton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Craig A. Gagnon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gil Gatch (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Gibson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Thomas Lee Gilreath (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brandon Guffey (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kevin Hardee (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Charles V. Hartz (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William G. "Bill" Herbkersman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Lee Hewitt (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David R. Hiott (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Hixon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Harriet A. Holman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William C. "Chris" Huff (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jeffrey E. "Jeff" Johnson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kathy Landing (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John T. Lastinger, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: M. Brian Lawson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Steven Wayne Long (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Phillip D. Lowe (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Marvin "Mark" Smith (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Josiah Magnuson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David Martin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Donald Ryan McCabe, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John R. McCravy III (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Melissa Lackey Oremus (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Fawn M. Pedalino (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Luke S. Rankin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Robby Robbins (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Richard Blake Sanders (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Carla M. Schuessler (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Heath Sessions (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Travis A. Moore (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Bill Taylor (Republican), House - Cosponsor: James E. Teeple (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jackie R. Terribile (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David Vaughan (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Wm. Weston J. Newton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Joseph S. "Joe" White (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William R. "Bill" Whitmire (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Paul B. Wickensimer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mark N. Willis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chris Wooten (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Richard L. "Richie" Yow (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-15 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Concur in Senate Amendments | pass | 77 | 31 | | | 2026-03-26 | Senate | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)3rd Reading | pass | 33 | 2 | | | 2026-03-25 | Senate | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)2nd Reading | pass | 35 | 2 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Passage of Bill | pass | 96 | 19 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Table Amendment 3 Amendment number 3 | pass | 86 | 30 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Table Amendment 2 Amendment number 2 | pass | 80 | 31 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Table Amendment 6 Amendment number 6 | pass | 85 | 30 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Table Amendment 27 Amendment number 27 | pass | 82 | 30 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Table Amendment 28 Amendment number 28 | pass | 80 | 30 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Table Amendment 5 Amendment number 5 | pass | 85 | 32 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Adjourn For The Day | fail | 27 | 87 | | | 2026-01-28 | House | (South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act)Cloture | pass | 83 | 32 | | ## Actions (35) - 2026-05-26: Act No. 152 (legislature) - 2026-05-26: Effective date 05/15/26 (legislature) - 2026-05-15: Signed By Governor (Governor) - 2026-05-14: Ratified R 202 (legislature) - 2026-04-15: Roll call Yeas-77 Nays-31 (House) - 2026-04-15: Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House) - 2026-04-01: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature) - 2026-04-01: Debate adjourned until Tues., 4-14-26 (House) - 2026-03-26: Roll call Ayes-33 Nays-2 (Senate) - 2026-03-26: Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Roll call Ayes-35 Nays-2 (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Amended (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-24: Special order, set for March 24, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-17: Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee on Education (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Introduced and read first time (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature) - 2026-02-03: Read third time and sent to Senate (House) - 2026-01-29: Roll call Yeas-96 Nays-19 (House) - 2026-01-29: Read second time (House) - 2026-01-29: Amended (House) - 2026-01-28: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers (House) - 2026-01-28: Requests for debate-Rep (House) - 2026-01-28: Amended (House) - 2026-01-28: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gibson (House) - 2026-01-22: Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House) - 2026-01-21: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger, Teeple, Guffey, McCabe (House) - 2026-01-15: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Landing (House) - 2026-01-14: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White, D.Mitchell, Cromer, Gilreath, Huff (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House) - 2026-01-13: Introduced and read first time (House) - 2025-12-16: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House) - 2025-12-16: Prefiled (House) ## Bill text - Introduced: [HTML](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4756.htm) ## Related bills - S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO INSTEAD ENFORCE AE STANDARDS IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY'S FLOOD DAMA… (became law) - S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATIO… (signed) - H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD BY WHICH PERSONS FILE TO BECOME A CANDI… (signed) - S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO DETERMINATION OF RATES OF TUITION AND FEES, DESIGNATED AS RE… (signed) - S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO PROVID… (signed) - H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING AS PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 3, TITLE 61 TO MAY 1, 2026. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4756.htm) ## Related - [S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO AL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0623-2025-2026) - [S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0586-2025-2026) - [H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD O…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5653-2025-2026) - [S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDU…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S1062-2025-2026) - [S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0779-2025-2026) - [H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5261-2025-2026) - [South Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina/bills) - [South Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4756-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).