[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6262651,"mediaKeyId","3112989-157e7637061ca30fcb2f98c2f66eb0a3","parentId",3112989,"title","Senate debate centers on structure, oversight of proposed Education Scholarship Trust Fund","audioSeconds",4000,"startMs",6532000,"endMs",10532000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3112989-157e7637061ca30fcb2f98c2f66eb0a3&start=6532&end=10532","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3112989-157e7637061ca30fcb2f98c2f66eb0a3/thumbnail_6532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262651/South-Carolina/Senate-debate-centers-on-structure-oversight-of-proposed-Education-Scholarship-Trust-Fund","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262651-c72d5fbb22e302846086d17197830613/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427947&Signature=E9pyyTOmJ4vdV2ELW0rmWphKozQePP~7K4IVmK70w4ocAvCl5nbzB0eQ2haypIYJUi3qA3CR0jpG7CkCBL6vw4jjAprOPanIrGu~kcvpLZIPHGsMzjC7dadsjXt0dnBOPhZ9UsS51-bZG8tNxH6FaK1FeUs76OfhLN0kN6EkEwYWZqmLtP6KxmRII8LbQvVRNHTlepqy~H~GMlk79p6Ael~NzhEhVV1tJ2221Or52XJ3rDWNNZEfAuj3TSrEJ5l88K5WdMWKwCSq66fYOS0wMjDwPDKkFVH-UMPQybVpGAk0RYPlWVardBAs2ZSM6GRS0BBE7Cs1Uc-C-glkoGiqTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","The South Carolina Senate spent a large portion of its floor session debating a proposal to create an Education Scholarship Trust Fund to deliver state-supported scholarships for children to attend nonpublic K–12 schools. Senators sparred over who should control program rules, how a trustee would be appointed and paid, and whether the approach would withstand judicial review.

Senator Martin (Senator from Spartanburg) framed one amendment as protective of existing scholarship commitments, saying, “My amendment in no way attempts to alter or undo any of the main objectives of this bill” and adding the change “simply confirms that promise” that lottery proceeds would first cover higher-education scholarships before other uses. Martin said his amendment sought to clarify sources and ordering of the fund’s revenues and to return any funds that could not be legally used to education purposes rather than to the general fund.

Opponents warned the changes could reopen the bill to constitutional challenge. Senator Hembry (Senator from Horry) said he had “grave concerns that if we adopt this amendment, that it will in fact, leave us open to yet another constitutional challenge,” citing the court decisions that shaped earlier drafts and the need to follow the high-court guidance.

Senators and questioners pressed for specifics about how the trust would operate. Floor discussion reflected these points from the bill text and committee testimony: the state superintendent of education would appoint the trustee (the trustee may not be a public entity or state employee), the trustee would administer payments to vendors at the parents’ direction, payments would be disbursed on a quarterly schedule tied to student counts, and up to 5 percent of the program money could be used for administration (including trustee payment). The transcript shows senators asking whether the trustee’s fee would come from that administration cap, how the trustee would be selected and removed, and whether funds held by a trustee could be reclaimed if the trust were later declared unconstitutional.

Senator Martin described the trustee mechanism as an attempt to follow guidance in recent judicial decisions. He told colleagues that the trustee would confirm student eligibility before each quarterly disbursement and that the trust’s money would be returned to a restricted special education fund (not the general fund) if a court found the program unconstitutional. That treatment, he said, was intended to address concerns raised in prior litigation and the court’s treatment of direct transfers.

Other senators pressed on operational risk and accountability. Questions included whether a future superintendent could change or remove a trustee, what safeguards would exist against a trustee having a financial relationship with vendors, and whether the department or the trustee would have final authority to determine allowable uses of scholarship money. Senator Calhoun and others asked whether the trust structure would give the state sufficient oversight and whether the money might effectively leave direct public control once transferred.

The particular amendment debated on the floor (sought by Senator Martin) would have required lottery-ticket revenues to first fund higher-education scholarships and would specified how funds revert if the trust ends. The Senate rejected a motion to remove that amendment’s first section when Senator Henry’s tabling motion prevailed. The tabling motion on the amendment passed by roll call, 21–10.

Procedural status: by unanimous consent the Senate agreed to give the bill a second reading today and to carry over roll-call votes to third reading; several amendments were discussed and one significant amendment was tabled by roll call. Further action on the bill was preserved for the next stage of the calendar.

The debate combined legal caution with budget and program-design questions: supporters argued the trustee model and revenue ordering were intended to conform the program to recent court guidance; opponents and questioners warned that gaps in definitions, trustee selection, or discretionary “allowable expenses” language could create legal and fiscal risk and urged clearer statutory limits and selection transparency for the trustee.

The bill’s authors and senators repeatedly pointed to recent case law (referred to in debate as the Edison litigation and related opinions) as the reason for the trustee approach; senators also noted the program could be funded from the education lottery, the general fund or a mix depending on the budget and legal outcomes and that the trust model was intended to give the program operational structure while preserving legal compliance.

Looking ahead, the bill remains on the Senate calendar for third reading and further amendments. The roll-call tabling vote and several questions on trustee selection, trustee compensation, administrator authority and allowable expenses indicate the Senate will need further legislative detail or implementing guidance to address concerns raised on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate -- Senate Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:00 am ","oneSentenceSummary","The South Carolina Senate spent a large portion of its floor session debating a proposal to create an Education Scholarship Trust Fund to deliver state-supported scholarships for children to attend nonpublic K–12 schools.","taxTitle","2025 Legislative Meetings, South Carolina","taxId",78666,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6262646,"Votes at a glance: key roll calls and adopted resolutions from the Senate floor",8242,2444000,10686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3112989-157e7637061ca30fcb2f98c2f66eb0a3&start=2444&end=10686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3112989-157e7637061ca30fcb2f98c2f66eb0a3/thumbnail_2444000.jpg","/articles/6262646/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-key-roll-calls-and-adopted-resolutions-from-the-Senate-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262646-194bfe42ea733f195276ab3235392226/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427947&Signature=I~7VW14TYxCg8ZU04BJLHSmwPQTrSVw5vOj8uZzycQ~SNQtoZJymRIY-krufI5MXnn58p4VjkvenDhRhIvqPTPMJuwJP1Wb~O5lGyqiftCdA40Dupq3m1TkAxKqjfmHjvwuZY~1K9wUfmSulIlO6tlgRKllG8k4BJVDWfN9UP689kDasVg6pqmBtwss9mlV9CA86oAWf-vtmiztHgRJBm4zIEKxZkbiBpukBH6T-~9uBQgi3BXP3CJu9sutWMnkg1y8voHkafuEOlljvbhZ3ULgrPVrRLg6QRSSFDGtYh7BpszT~2UZt2~hjvyXb9hkc5geI3VC9MJ8nBfL~U~TxjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Carolina Senate recorded several formal outcomes during the floor session, including final passage or adoption of bills and resolutions, and a notable roll-call on a second-reading bill. Below are the confirmed outcomes as recorded on the floor.

Votes and outcomes (selected):

H 3196 — Educator Assistance Act: The bill received third reading and the ayes prevailed on final passage on the floor (voice vote recorded as \"The ayes have it\"). The measure would make professional teaching certificates permanent unless revoked or suspended and remove renewal requirements for professional certificates issued by the State Board of Education.

H 3947 — Continuing education/physical attendance exemptions: Second reading recorded by roll call; the transcript records the Senate giving H 3947 a second reading by a roll-call vote of 38–0.

Senate Resolution recognizing Charles B. Jackson Sr. and Brooklyn Banquet and Conference Center: The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution honoring Pastor Charles B. Jackson Sr. and the Brooklyn Banquet and Conference Center on the organization’s twentieth anniversary (resolution was read and \"unanimously adopted\").

H 43 71 — Concurrent resolution (See the Able Day): By unanimous consent the Senate discharged the resolution from the education committee, took immediate consideration and adopted the concurrent resolution declaring May 1, 2025, as See the Able Day to raise awareness of higher-education opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

S 566 — Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Red Dress Day: The Senate adopted S 566, declaring May 5, 2025, as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Red Dress Day in South Carolina (voice vote recorded as \"The ayes have it\").

Selected concurrent resolutions naming roads and bridges (adopted):
- S 561 — Requesting DOT name portion of River Road in Florence County Billy Eady Road (adopted).
- H 4158 — Requesting DOT name portion of Old Devil Road in Aiken County the Dr. Charlie Timmerman Memorial Road (adopted).
- S 523 — Requesting DOT name an interchange in Horry County for Commissioner Tony K. Cox (adopted).
- H 3938 — Requesting DOT name portion of South Charleston Road in Darlington County the Dr. Melvin Leroy Howard Memorial Highway (adopted).
- H 3002 — Requesting DOT name portion of Govan Road in Bamberg County the William H. Nimmons Sr. Road (adopted).

Other procedural outcomes: multiple bills and regulations were carried over to later calendars by unanimous consent or committee motion; several regulatory approvals were held on the calendar until May 8 to permit review by senators.

What this means: Several education- and licensing-related bills advanced on the calendar and at least one major education-funding package (S146) remained under active floor consideration with amendments. The roll-call ballots and unanimous adoptions recorded on the floor become part of the official Senate journal and bill histories; measures carried over will return to the calendar for further votes and potential final action.

For reporters: the Senate transcript records roll-call tallies for H 3947 (38–0) and a tabling roll call on a major amendment to S146 (21–10) in addition to the voice and unanimous-consent outcomes listed above. The session also included ceremonial recognitions and numerous bill introductions and referrals.","A summary of recorded final outcomes and roll-call results from the South Carolina Senate session, including passage or adoption of bills, resolutions and a recorded second-reading tally.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate debate centers on structure, oversight of proposed Education Scholarship Trust Fund

Votes at a glance: key roll calls and adopted resolutions from the Senate floor