summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
03/04/2026
03/04/2026
Crossed Over
03/03/2026
03/03/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 59-1-335 So As To Authorize School Districts And Charter Schools To Implement Certain Volunteer School Chaplain Policies; And By Adding Section 59-1-485 So As To Provide For The Display Of The Ten Commandments And Other Historical Documents In Public School And Postsecondary Classrooms.
AI Summary
This bill allows South Carolina school districts and charter schools to implement policies for volunteer school chaplains, who must be endorsed by an entity, affiliated with a local religious congregation, and authorized by the school; these chaplains can provide student support services with written parental consent, undergo background checks, and their religious affiliation must be disclosed, while they are prohibited from advancing any particular religion. Additionally, the bill mandates that by January 1, 2027, all public school classrooms and postsecondary institution classrooms must display the Ten Commandments, along with a historical context statement about their role in American education, and also permits the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance, with provisions for accepting donations to cover display costs and requiring the Attorney General to defend against any legal challenges.
Committee Categories
Education, Justice
Sponsors (47)
Steven Long (R)*,
William Bailey (R),
Gary Brewer (R),
Micah Caskey (R),
Don Chapman (R),
Bill Chumley (R),
Heather Crawford (R),
April Cromer (R),
Sylleste Davis (R),
Sarita Edgerton (R),
Cal Forrest (R),
Gil Gatch (R),
Doug Gilliam (R),
Thomas Lee Gilreath (R),
Val Guest (R),
Patrick Haddon (R),
Davey Hiott (R),
Bill Hixon (R),
Harriet Holman (R),
John Lastinger (R),
Brian Lawson (R),
Randy Ligon (R),
Phillip Lowe (R),
Josiah Magnuson (R),
John McCravy (R),
Cody Mitchell (R),
Dianne Mitchell (R),
Travis Moore (R),
Brandon Newton (R),
Weston Newton (R),
Melissa Oremus (R),
Fawn Pedalino (R),
Tommy Pope (R),
Luke Rankin (R),
Robby Robbins (R),
Blake Sanders (R),
Carla Schuessler (R),
Heath Sessions (R),
Mark Smith (R),
Murrell Smith (R),
Bill Taylor (R),
David Vaughan (R),
Joe White (R),
Bill Whitmire (R),
Mark Willis (R),
Chris Wooten (R),
Richie Yow (R),
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Education (on 03/04/2026)
Official Document
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