A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "DATA CENTER SITING ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-10 SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS PERTAINING TO DATA CENTER SITING; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-20 SO AS TO REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION BEFORE A DATA CENTER MAY BEGIN OPERATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-30 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CERTIFICATION PROCEEDING PROCESS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-40 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PARTIES TO A CERTIFICATION PROCEEDING; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-50 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EVALUATIVE CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN APPLICATION; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A RECORD OF ANY HEARING AND TESTIMONY TAKEN CERTIFICATION PROCEEDING; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTING OR DENYING AN APPLICATION; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER BY THE COMMISSION; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL REPORTING ON COMPLIANCE WITH WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-120 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ADEQUACY ASSESSMENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR REASONABLE BUFFER REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-130 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S ROLE CONCERNING RATES, AGREEMENTS BETWEEN UTILITIES AND DATA CENTERS, AND COST ALLOCATION METHODOLOGIES; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-140 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR DECOMMISSIONING PLANS AND FINANCIAL ASSURANCES ASSOCIATED WITH DECOMMISSIONING; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-150 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAND USE PLANNING; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-160 SO AS TO REQUIRE DATA CENTERS TO IMPLEMENT REASONABLE MEASURES TO MINIMIZE NOISE, VIBRATION, AND LIGHT IMPACTS RESULTING FROM THEIR OPERATION; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-170 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS FOR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHARED BY DATA CENTER OPERATORS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-180 SO AS TO CLARIFY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THIS CHAPTER AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-44-190 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES; TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES; PROVIDE THAT FOR TWO YEARS AFTER ENACTMENT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SHALL PRIORITIZE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE OVER ENFORCEMENT TO FACILITATE INDUSTRY TRANSITION TO THE NEW REQUIREMENTS; AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO CREATE A GENERIC DOCKET BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACT AND DEVELOP REGULATIONS; AND PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL REPORTING BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

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