South Carolina S 959: Marion Milhouse Retirement

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 959 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 25, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 959

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 
59-150-385 SO AS TO CREATE THE TUITION GAP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE 
OF ENSURING THAT ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVING LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS, 
OR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE THEIR REMAINING TUITION COSTS FULLY 
COVERED DURING ANY SEMESTER IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE SUCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 150, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
59-150-385. (A) There is 
established the Tuition Gap Scholarship Program for the purpose of ensuring 
that eligible students receiving LIFE Scholarships, HOPE Scholarships, or 
Palmetto Fellows Scholarships have their remaining tuition costs fully covered 
during any semester in which they receive such scholarship awards.

 (B) 
A student who is enrolled at a public institution of higher learning in South 
Carolina and who receives a LIFE Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship, or Palmetto 
Fellows Scholarship is eligible to receive a Tuition Gap Scholarship for each 
semester in which they remain eligible for and receive one of these 
scholarships.

 (C) 
The amount of the Tuition Gap Scholarship must be equal to the difference 
between:

 (1) 
the actual cost of full-time tuition for in-state students at the eligible 
public institution of higher learning in which the student is enrolled; and

 (2) 
the total value of the LIFE, HOPE, or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship awarded to 
the student for that semester, including any STEM supplements.

 (D) 
The Tuition Gap Scholarship may not be used to pay any fees, room and board, 
books, or other nontuition expenses.

 (E) 
The Commission on Higher Education shall administer the Tuition Gap Scholarship 
Program and shall:

 (1) 
develop application and verification procedures;

 (2) 
ensure coordination with public institutions of higher learning to calculate 
tuition costs and scholarship shortfalls; and

 (3) 
annually report to the General Assembly on the number of recipients, 
disbursements, and fiscal impact.

 (F) 
The Tuition Gap Scholarships must be funded exclusively from proceeds of the 
South Carolina Education Lottery. No general fund appropriations may be used 
for this purpose.

 (G) 
The commission shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement and 
administer the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor and first applies to the academic year beginning in the Fall 
Semester of 2027.

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This web page was last updated on February 25, 2026 at 02:40 PM