South Carolina H 3271: In-State college tuition rates

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3271 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3271

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 
59-101-440 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STUDENT MUST BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING OUT-OF-STATE 
TUITION AT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MUST 
BE ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE IF 
HE ATTENDED A HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STATE FOR THREE OR MORE YEARS, GRADUATED FROM 
A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE OR RECEIVED THE EQUIVALENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA 
IN THIS STATE, REGISTERS AS AN ENTERING STUDENT OR IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A 
PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION NO EARLIER THAN THE FALL SEMESTER OF THE 
2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR, AND, IF LACKING LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS, FILES AN 
AFFIDAVIT WITH THE INSTITUTION STATING HE HAS FILED AN APPLICATION TO LEGALIZE 
HIS IMMIGRATION OR WILL FILE AN APPLICATION WHEN ELIGIBLE; TO PROVIDE A STUDENT 
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE UNDER 
THIS ACT ALSO MUST MEET OTHER QUALIFICATIONS OF THE STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP 
OR TUITION ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE; TO 
PROVIDE STUDENT INFORMATION OBTAINED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT MUST BE 
CONFIDENTIAL; AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND 
REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 101, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-101-440. (A) A student, other 
than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of Section 101(a)(15) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(15), is exempt from 
paying out of state tuition at a public institution of higher education in this 
State and is eligible for state sponsored scholarships and tuition assistance 
provided in Chapter 111, Title 59 and elsewhere, including, but not limited to, 
the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, Hope Scholarship, Life Scholarship, the 
Tuition Grants Program, the Governor's Committee on the Employment of the 
Physically Handicapped essay contest, and free tuition for the children of 
certain veterans; if the student:

 (1) 
attended high school in this State for three or more years;

 (2) 
graduated from a high school in this State or received the equivalent of a high 
school diploma in this State;

 (3) 
registers as an entering student or is currently enrolled in a public 
institution of higher education not earlier than the fall semester of the 
2026-2027 Academic Year; and

 (4) 
in the case of a person without lawful immigration status, files an affidavit 
with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an 
application to legalize his immigration status or will file an application as 
soon as he is eligible to do so.

 (B) 
A student who is eligible for a state-sponsored scholarship or tuition 
assistance pursuant to subsection (A) also must satisfy the requirements of the 
scholarship or tuition assistance.

 (C) 
Student information obtained in the implementation of this section must be 
confidential.

 (D) 
The Commission on Higher Education shall adopt rules and regulations necessary 
to effectuate the provisions of this section.

 (E) 
The provisions of this section apply not withstanding another provision of law.

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

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