South Carolina H 3488: Religious Freedom of Marriage Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3488 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3488

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 AMENDING 
SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE IMPACT OF FELONIES AND ALCOHOL OR 
DRUG-RELATED MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES ON PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP 
QUALIFICATIONS, BY AMENDING SECTION 59-113-20, RELATING TO THE IMPACT OF 
FELONIES AND ALCOHOL OR DRUG-RELATED MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES ON SOUTH CAROLINA 
TUITION GRANTS QUALIFICATIONS, AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-90, RELATING TO 
THE IMPACT OF FELONIES AND ALCOHOL OR DRUG-RELATED MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES ON 
LEGISLATIVE INCENTIVES FOR FUTURE EXCELLENCE (LIFE) SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFICATIONS, 
ALL SO AS TO REMOVE CONVICTIONS FOR MISDEMEANOR ALCOHOL-RELATED OR DRUG-RELATED 
OFFENSES FROM THOSE OFFENSES WHICH DISQUALIFY PERSONS FROM RECEIVING THESE SCHOLARSHIPS 
AND GRANTS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-104-20(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (B) Students, either new or 
continuing, must not have been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled 
guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any second or 
subsequent alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or 
any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible 
for a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, except that a high 
school or college student otherwise qualified who has been adjudicated 
delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a second 
or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be 
eligible or continue to be eligible for such scholarships after the expiration 
of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea.

SECTION 2. Section 59-113-20(f) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (f) has not been adjudicated 
delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related offenses under 
the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in 
order to be eligible for a South Carolina tuition grant, 
except that a high school or college student otherwise qualified who has been 
adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere 
to a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense 
nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for such grants after 
the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, 
conviction, or plea.

SECTION 3. Section 59-149-90(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (A) Students must not have been 
adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to 
any felonies or any second or subsequent alcohol or 
drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under 
the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, except that a high school or college student otherwise 
qualified who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled 
guilty or nolo contendere to a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related 
misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible 
for such scholarships after the expiration of one academic year from the date 
of the adjudication, conviction, or plea.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 06, 2024 at 12:10 PM