H4762

School volunteer chaplains and historical displays

Chamber Passed·3/3/26

South Carolina bill allows schools to have volunteer chaplains and mandates display of Ten Commandments and other historical documents in classrooms.

The bill permits school districts and charter schools in South Carolina to implement policies for volunteer school chaplains. Parents can choose a chaplain from a list provided by the school, which includes the chaplain's religious affiliation. Chaplains must pass background checks and cannot have prior arrests or convictions that would affect their fitness to serve. The bill also mandates that public schools and institutions of higher learning display the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact, and articles from the Northwest Ordinance in each classroom.

Included in complete analysis

  • Overview
  • Core Provisions
  • Implementation
  • Impact
  • Legal Framework
  • Critical Issues

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Where it stands

Last
Passed the House · 76–38 · Mar 3
Current
Education Committee
Next
Senate floor vote

Sponsors

0
47
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Democratic CaucusRepublican Caucus

Roll Call Votes

84 Yea

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31 Nay

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2 Not Voting

RD

7 Absent

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Calendar

Jan 21

12:00 AM

House Judiciary Full Committee on 415, 477, 4145, 4756, 4760, 4762

Jan 21

12:15 PM

House Judiciary Domestic Relations, Business & Probate Law Subcommittee on 415, 477, 4145, 4762

History

Mar 4

Senate

Introduced and read first time

Mar 4

Senate

Referred to Committee on Education

Mar 3

House

Read third time and sent to Senate