A bill that Palmetto State teachers groups call their top priority for the 2025 legislative session is on its way to the S.C. House floor after winning unanimous support at a Feb. 5 meeting of the body’s Education and Public Works Committee.
The Educator Assistance Act, which addresses longtime teacher concerns about contracts, recertification requirements and district administrative procedures, passed the House last session but died without a vote in the Senate.
“This is an important bill for us,” The S.C. Education Association President Sherry East told Statehouse Report on Feb. 5. “It’s got a lot of good things in it for teachers.”
Among the provisions supporters say are particularly critical:
- 14-day notice for job assignments: Teachers currently sign contracts with no knowledge of where or what subject they will be teaching. Under the bill, districts must give them this information at least two weeks before the school year begins. Changes to these assignments would require school board approval.
- Easing continuing education requirements: Under current law, teachers are forced to pay out-of-pocket for continuing education courses to meet their recertification requirements. The bill would allow them to use district-provided professional development work to meet that prerequisite.
- Salaries in contracts: Teachers currently sign contracts without a guaranteed minimum salary. The bill would require districts to provide at least an estimate, subject to change based on legislative adjustments to statewide pay scales.
Committee member and S.C. Rep. Hamilton Grant (D-Richland) called the collaborative process that produced the bill “refreshing.”
“This bill empowers teachers and gives them stability in the classroom and in their professional development,” he added.
But GOP Committee Chair Shannon Erickson of Beaufort County warned that the real work still lay ahead in the S.C. Senate.
“We passed this four times last year and they let it sit,” Erickson said. “Teachers, don’t let them do that again. They listen to you . . . and if you need somebody’s cell phone number, I’ll give it to you.”
Next week in the Statehouse
The S.C. House and Senate are expected to reconvene at noon Feb. 11 with several bills awaiting floor action. On the calendar in the House is a reworking of last year’s failed House energy bill. In the Senate, lawmakers may consider a Senate amendment to the state constitution making the comptroller’s office an appointed, rather than elected, position.
Committees will meet throughout the week. Highlights include a presentation by the state Department of Children’s Advocacy, oversight hearings for the S.C. Law Enforcement Division and the Office of the Attorney General, and an update from the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- A complete listing of streamable committee meetings is available on the Statehouse website at scstatehouse.gov/video/schedule.php.
In other recent news
S.C. House GOP leaders roll out anti-DEI, DOGE bills. S.C. House GOP leaders rolled out bills that aim to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and cut state government waste at a Feb. 6 press conference.
S.C. lawmakers push for hands-free driving bill. Stopping at a red light to take out your phone, scrolling to check messages while driving, and making a phone call behind the wheel could all soon be illegal in South Carolina.
S.C. Senate takes up liquor liability reform. Two competing bills that aim to lower liquor liability insurance rates for bars and restaurants are under consideration in the S.C. Senate. High rates are believed to have forced the closure of several establishments across the state.
Bipartisan bill seeks to tackle child care for S.C. families. A new, bipartisan bill filed in the state Senate aims to both incentivize South Carolina employers to help their workers out with childcare availability and costs and to encourage more people to open childcare centers and work in them.
How the Senate wants to fund private school scholarships with lottery money. The S.C. Senate passed its version of a K-12 private school voucher program Feb. 4 as supporters look to revive ways to subsidize private school tuition with public funds that were killed by a state Supreme Court decision last fall.
- S.C. bill would require schools to excuse some extracurricular activities.
- SLED, S.C. Dept. of Education under review at Statehouse.
Legislation sought to expand state’s protections for intimate partner violence victims. Advocates for victims and survivors of domestic violence are urging South Carolina lawmakers to expand protections to cover more abuse victims.
McMaster signals support for direct car sales legislation. Scout Motors is pushing the pedal on a bill that would allow car companies to sell cars without a third-party auto dealership, which is currently prohibited under state law. The EV carmaker now has the support of the state’s top politician.
SLED rescued more than 200 dogs last year from illegal fighting rings. The State Law Enforcement Division rescued 205 victims of dogfighting last year. A new law made it easier than ever for these dogs to be adopted after rehabilitation.
3rd inmate since September put to death in S.C. On Jan. 31, Marion Bowman Jr. became the third death row inmate to be executed by the state of South Carolina since September, when the state resumed executions.
S.C. tribes sign historic agreement at Statehouse. Representatives of South Carolina’s 10 state-recognized Native American tribes joined Gov. Henry McMaster on Feb. 4 to sign a pact pledging cooperation on goals such as cultural preservation, historical and physical conservation, economic development and sovereignty.
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