South Carolina H 4902: Intercollegiate Athletes' Compensation for Name, Image, or Likeness

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4902 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4902

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

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Committee Report

February 11, 2026

H. 4902

Introduced by Reps. Hiott, G. M. Smith, 
Bannister, Rutherford, Brittain, Guest, Stavrinakis, Erickson, Caskey, Pope, 
Collins, B. Newton, Davis, Herbkersman, Hixon, Willis, Reese and Gilliard 

S. Printed 2/11/26--S.

Read the first time January 20, 2026

________

The committee on Senate Education

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4902) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-158-50, relating to an 
exemption of an intercollegiate athlete's name, image, and likeness 
compensation, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

GREG HEMBREE for Committee.

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A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 59-158-50, RELATING TO AN EXEMPTION OF AN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETE'S 
NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS COMPENSATION CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION MAINTAINED BY 
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNDER THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, SO AS TO REMOVE AN EXCEPTION TO THE 
EXEMPTION, AND TO PROVIDE that RECORDS OF AGGREGATE REVENUE FUNDS EXPENDED FOR 
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS REVENUE-SHARING PROGRAMS BY A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF 
HIGHER LEARNING EACH FISCAL YEAR ARE SUBJECT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF 
INFORMATION ACT SUBJECT TO EXCEPTIONS FROM SUCH DISCLOSURE FOR INDIVIDUAL 
ATHLETE PAYMENTS, SPORT-SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS, AND NEGOTIATION RECORDS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-158-50 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-158-50. (A) If an institution of 
higher learning collects, retains, or maintains copies or summaries of the 
terms of an intercollegiate athlete's name, image, or likeness contract or 
proposed contract detailing compensation to the intercollegiate athlete for the 
use of the intercollegiate athlete's name, image, or likeness or athletic 
reputation, the documentation may not be considered a public record under 
Section 30-4-20(C) unless they are a party.

 (B) 
An institution of higher learning may not be compelled to disclose the 
information to a collegiate athletic association, athletic conference, or other 
group or organization with authority over an intercollegiate athletic program 
at an institution of higher learning.

 (C)(1) The total amount of revenue funds 
expended by an institution of higher learning during each fiscal year as part 
of an intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing program is subject to public 
disclosure. However, the following records and information are not subject to 
public disclosure and are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Section 30-4-40:

 (a) the total amount, and any 
percentage amount, of those revenue funds paid as part of an intercollegiate 
athletics revenue-sharing program to any specific intercollegiate athlete; and

 (b) the total amount, and any 
percentage amount, of those revenue funds as allocated as part of an 
intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing program to any specific 
intercollegiate sport or athletics program.

 (2) Documents related to or created 
as part of the process of negotiating an agreement with an intercollegiate 
athlete as part of an intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing program, 
including any agreements entered into with any specific intercollegiate athlete, 
are confidential and may not be considered a public record pursuant to Section 
30-4-20(C).

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor and applies retroactively to any pending legal action or disclosure 
request for which a final judgment has not been entered.

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This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 04:29 PM