South Carolina H 4803: School Immunizations

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4803 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4803

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-560 SO AS TO PROVIDE VACCINE 
COMMUNICATION TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS THAT INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE 
PROCESS FOR OBTAINING CHILDHOOD OR SCHOOL-ENTRY IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTION 
INFORMATION.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 5, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-63-560. (A)(1) Any communication 
by the Department of Public Health, its divisions, or its contracted entities, 
that provides information to parents or guardians regarding childhood or 
school-entry immunization requirements must also include clear and accessible 
information regarding:

 (a) 
the availability of medical and religious exemptions pursuant to Section 
44-29-180 and related regulations; and

 (b) 
the process by which a parent or guardian may apply for such exemptions, 
including where to obtain the necessary forms and how to submit them.

 (2) 
The Department of Public Health must provide a copy of any communications 
prepared pursuant to item (1) to the State Department of Education.

 (B) 
The exemption information must be included in the same document, webpage, or 
communication in which immunization requirements are presented. It shall not be 
limited to separate or hard-to-access resources.

 (C) 
This requirement applies to:

 (1) 
printed materials distributed through schools or public health offices;

 (2) 
digital materials distributed via email, public portals, or websites; and

 (3) 
public awareness campaigns, including social media posts, sponsored 
advertisements, and official press releases.

 (D) 
In addition to the requirements of subsections (A) through (C), each public or 
private school in this State shall, at least once annually, provide written 
notice to parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school that medical 
and religious exemptions are available pursuant to Section 44-29-180. The notice 
must include information on how to obtain and submit the exemption forms and 
may be provided as part of the school's existing annual communications to 
parents.

 (E) 
The exemption information must be presented in clear, plain language that is 
easily understood by the general public and may not be obscured or presented in 
a manner intended to discourage its use.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:49 PM