South Carolina - Session 126
Title: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-1-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CURRENT AND VALID EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATIONS APPROVED BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE IF ALL OTHER APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.
Occupational and professional licensing
| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-05 | Introduced | Bill introduced |
| 2026-03-31 | Status | in_committee |
| 2026-03-31 | Latest Action | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: J.L.Johnson |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| H 4103 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-37-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY MAY ISSUE RESTRICTED VOLUNTEER MEMBER LICENSES TO OPTOMETRISTS FROM OTHER STATES WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUPERVISION, DURATION, AND REGULATION OF SUCH LICENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-30, RELATING TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-40, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS TO MEET EDUCATIONAL AND COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-245, RELATING TO EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT, SO AS TO ALLOW EXAMINATION EQUIVALENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-290, RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, PRESCRIBING, AND ADMINISTERING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMIT THE PERMISSIBLE USE OF SUCH MEDICATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-310, RELATING TO REFERRALS FOR TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA AND PROVISION OF SURGERY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-330, RELATING TO USE OF OPTOMETRISTS' SERVICES AUTHORIZED FOR AGENCY AND SCHOOL-REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE OPTOMETRISTS MAY PROVIDE VISION OR EYE CARE SERVICES AT A SCHOOL IF APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-420, RELATING TO PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CERTAIN LICENSEES, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE PERSONS LICENSED AS OPTOMETRISTS IN THIS STATE MAY CONTINUE PRACTICING UNDER CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT THAT SUCH PERSONS LICENSED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013, MUST FULFILL CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM CERTAIN TREATMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-79-30, RELATING TO PROVISIONS LIMITING LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS UNDER MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE LAWS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION CONCERNING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS TO PATIENTS, AND TO INCLUDE OPTOMETRISTS AMONG THE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED IN THESE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-30-310, RELATING TO IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SO AS TO INCLUDE VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRISTS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 40-37-300 RELATING TO ESTABLISHING PHARMACIES OR SELLING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS, AND DISPENSING CONTACT LENSES. | introduced |
| H 4817 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "INSURANCE RATE REDUCTION AND POLICYHOLDER PROTECTION ACT;"" BY AMENDING SECTION 38-3-110 | passed_lower |
| H 5495 | A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO DECLARE APRIL 2026 AS "SECOND CHANCE MONTH"" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO COMMEND SOTERIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ON ITS OUTSTANDING WORK IN ASSISTING FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO REENTER SOCIETY." | introduced |
| H 4764 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 23-1-260 SO AS TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OPERATING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES SHALL ENTER INTO WRITTEN AGREEMENTS OR MEMORANDUMS OF AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS THAT AUTHORIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-80, RELATING TO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT UNIT, SO AS TO PROVIDE SLED SHALL PROVIDE A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS. | passed_lower |
| H 3197 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE WORKFORCE READINESS GOAL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-245 SO AS TO PROVIDE REMEDIATION IN COURSES IN LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEEKING POST-SECONDARY STUDIES BUT LACKING REQUISITE ACADEMIC PREPARATION, TO PROVIDE THIS COURSEWORK MAY BE USED TO MEET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM; BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SHALL COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO TRANSFER PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCTING THESE EVALUATIONS AND PRODUCING THIS REPORT CARD TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-140 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE SHALL MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF COLLEGE MAJORS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. | introduced |
| H 5507 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 8-11-158 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES WITH CERTAIN PAID LEAVE EACH MONTH. | in_committee |
| H 4758 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 46-55-5 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER IS TO ENCOURAGE THE LAWFUL CULTIVATION, HARVESTING, AND MANUFACTURING OF HEMP; BY AMENDING SECTION 46-55-10, RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP CULTIVATION TERMS AND DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS, AND TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF EXISTING TERMS; AND BY ADDING SECTIONS 46-55-70, 46-55-80, AND 46-55-90 SO AS TO REGULATE THE DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF CONSUMABLE HEMP, TO PROVIDE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT INTERSTATE COMMERCE, OR TO PROHIBIT THE LAWFUL POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, SALE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN CBD PRODUCTS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES. | introduced |
| H 5484 | A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "ENERGY AFFORDABILITY ACT"" BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-20 | in_committee |