South Carolina H 3572: Schedule II, III, and IV drugs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3572 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 12, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3572

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 
59-101-680 SO AS TO provide PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING are 
PROHIBITed from uSing POLITICAL IDEOLOGY OR STATEMENTS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, 
AND INCLUSION IN MAKING ADMISSIONS OR EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS BY PUBLIC 
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SUCH 
PURPOSES, TO PROHIBIT SUCH INSTITUTIONS FROM REQUIRING FACULTY OR EMPLOYEES TO 
COMPLETE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAINING OR TAKE ADVERSE ACTION 
AGAINST FACULTY OR EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSE OR FAIL TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH 
TRAINING, TO PROHIBIT SUCH INSTITUTIONS FROM INFRINGING ON FIRST AMENDMENT 
RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, OR EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS, TO CLARIFY THE APPLICABILITY OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO PROVIDE 
INSTITUTIONS SHALL PROVIDE ELECTRONIC COPIES OF THESE PROVISIONS TO STUDENTS, 
EMPLOYEES, AND FACULTY, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

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

SECTION 1. Article 2, Chapter 101, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-101-680. (A) For the purposes 
of this section, "public institution of higher learning" means any 
state-supported, postsecondary educational institution and includes technical 
and comprehensive educational institutions.

 (B) 
When determining admissions or employment decisions, a public institution of 
higher learning may not expend any funds appropriated or authorized to promise 
admission, benefits, or promote or engage in differential treatment to an 
applicant for admission, or hire or promote a faculty member or employee, on 
the applicant's or faculty member's or employee's commitment to or making a 
declaration of personal support for or disagreement with any political ideology 
or movement, including a promise or statement regarding diversity, equity, 
inclusion, or other associated political issues. A public institution of higher 
learning may not ask for or demand any such political promise or declaration 
from an applicant, or a faculty member or employee.

 (C) 
If a public institution of higher learning receives a promise or declaration 
describing a commitment to any political ideology or movement, including a 
political promise or declaration regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, or 
other associated political issues, it may not promote or engage in differential 
treatment, grant or deny admission or benefits to a student, or hire or promote 
a faculty member or employee, based on the opinions expressed in the promise or 
declaration.

 (D) 
A public institution of higher learning shall not require a faculty member or 
employee of the institution to complete or participate in mandatory training or 
other educational program regarding diversity, equity, inclusion. A public 
institution of higher learning shall not take an adverse employment action 
against a faculty member or employee of the institution for the faculty 
member's or employee's failure or refusal to participate in such training or 
program.

 (E) 
A public institution of higher learning shall not infringe on a student, 
faculty member, or employee's first amendment right to free speech. A public 
institution of higher learning shall not discriminate on the basis of viewpoint 
discrimination.

 (F) 
A public institution of higher learning must report to the Commission on Higher 
Education by August first each year the total number of administrative 
positions and total operating costs, including a description of the programs 
that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. The report shall also contain 
the number and nature of the complaints made to the institution by a student, 
faculty member, or employee regarding a violation of this provision and the 
resolution, or status, of the complaint. The Commission on Higher Education 
must provide a report to the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works 
Committee, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, the Chairman of the 
Senate Finance Committee, and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means 
Committee by October first each year summarizing this information, by 
institution.

 (G) 
Nothing in this provision prohibits a public institution of higher learning 
from complying with federal law or applicable court order, or acting against a 
student, faculty member, or employee for violations of federal or state law or 
requiring a student, faculty member, or employee to comply with federal or 
state law, including antidiscrimination laws.

 (H) 
Nothing in this provision may be construed to limit or prohibit an institution 
of higher learning or an empl