South Carolina H 4257: James Edwin "Eddy" Medina Sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4257 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4257

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

February 11, 2026

H. 4257

Introduced by Reps. J. E. Johnson, Lowe, C. 
Mitchell, Yow, Brittain, Jordan, B. Newton, Caskey, Gilliam, Rankin, 
Schuessler, Hayes, Guest, Crawford, Gagnon, McCabe, Pedalino and Hiott 

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

Read the first time May 1, 2025

________

The committee on Senate Education

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4257) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-5-65, relating to the 
requirement that the State Board of Education shall establish a uniform system, 
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 59-5-65, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 
SHALL ESTABLISH A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ENFORCEMENT, 
SO AS TO PROVIDE THIS SYSTEM MUST REQUIRE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO APPROVE 
STUDENT ABSENCES FOR PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED BY 
THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ACTIVITY IS SANCTIONED 
BY THE south carolina HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE OR OTHER INTERSCHOLASTIC SANCTIONING 
ORGANIZATION; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-65-90, RELATING TO RULES AND 
REGULATIONS THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH TO DEFINE LAWFUL 
AND UNLAWFUL ABSENCES UNDER COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE STATUTES, SO AS TO MAKE 
CONFORMING CHANGES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-1-462 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-1-462. Each school district, within ninety days after 
the effective date of this section, shall adopt a policy, to include language to ensure that participants are 
academically in good standing, that authorizes a student to be excused 
from school absences, not to exceed ten school days per school year, to 
participate in a Career and Technical Student Organization experience in which 
student participation and learning outcomes are directed by a certified teacher 
for assessment of competencies or participation in any 
interscholastic activity authorized for student participation by the school or 
school district, regardless of whether the activity is sanctioned by the South 
Carolina High School League or other entity that governs, sanctions, or 
operates interscholastic athletic and intramural activities and competitions. 
Participation in such Career and Technical Student Organization experience may 
include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of state-level Future Farmers 
of America (FFA) organizations, the national FFA organization, and 4-H programs 
as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The student and his parent or 
legal guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments missed 
while the student participates in any such Career and Technical Student Organization 
experiences or interscholastic activity authorized for 
student participation by the school or school district.

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

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This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 04:27 PM