South Carolina Arts Initiative

2025-2026 Bill 4731: South Carolina Arts Initiative - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4731
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Long, Chumley, Edgerton and Bowers
Document Path: LC-0530WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Summary: South Carolina Arts Initiative
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

12/16/2025

House

Prefiled

12/16/2025

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works

1/13/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 69
)

1/13/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 69
)

1/15/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/17/2025

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
60-15-25
SO AS TO ABOLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION AND TRANSFER AND
DEVOLVE ITS FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, TO TRANSFER THE EMPLOYEES, RECORDS, PROPERTY, AND TO TRANSFER THE
UNEXPENDED FUNDS OF THE COMMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND TO PROVIDE RULES,
REGULATIONS, STANDARDS, ORDERS, AND OTHER ACTIONS OF THE COMMISSION REMAIN IN
EFFECT UNLESS SPECIFICALLY CHANGED OR VOIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT; BY AMENDING SECTION
60-15-10
, RELATING TO STATE
POLICIES REGARDING THE ARTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE POLICIES; BY AMENDING SECTION
60-15-90
, RELATING TO DESIGNATION OF THE COMMISSION AS THE OFFICIAL AGENCY OF
STATE TO RECEIVE CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS RELATED TO CREATIVE AND INTERPRETIVE
ARTS PROGRAMS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION
60-15-60
,
RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY
AMENDING SECTION
60-15-80
, RELATING TO COMMISSION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, SO AS
TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; to REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 15, TITLE 60 OF THE S.C.
CODE AS "SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS INITIATIVES"; BY REPEALING SECTION
60-15-20

RELATING TO THE CREATION OF THE COMMISSION AND APPOINTMENT OF ITS MEMBERS; BY
REPEALING SECTION
60-15-30
RELATING TO TERMS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS; BY
REPEALING SECTION
60-15-40
RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF COMMISSION MEMBERS; BY
REPEALING SECTION
60-15-50
RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION TO
EMPLOY AND REMOVE OFFICERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES; BY REPEALING SECTION
60-15-70

RELATING TO COMMISSION POWERS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION
60-15-75
RELATING TO
STATEWIDE CULTURAL DISTRICTS.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
C
hapter 15, Title 60 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

S
ection
60-15-25
. On January 1, 2027, the South Carolina Arts Commission is abolished
and all functions, powers, and duties provided by law to the commission are
hereby transferred to the South Carolina Department of Education, and these
functions, powers, and duties are devolved upon the department, and the commission
records, property, and unexpended appropriations also are transferred to the department.
All rules, regulations, standards, orders, or other actions of the commission
shall remain in effect unless specifically changed or voided by the department
in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.

S
ECTION 2.
S
ection
60-15-10
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
60-15-10
.
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State to join with private patrons and with institutions and professional
organizations concerned with the arts to insure that the role of the arts in
the life of our communities will continue to grow and play an ever more
significant part in the welfare and educational experience of our citizens. It
is further declared that all activities undertaken by the State in carrying out
this policy shall be directed toward encouraging and assisting rather than limiting
the freedom of artistic expression that is essential for the well-being of the
arts.
It is hereby declared that the policy of the
State is to cooperate with public and private schools, local governments,
community institutions, and organizations to foster the arts as an important
component of the cultural, educational, and economic life of this State. The
General Assembly finds that the arts enrich communities, support civic pride,
and preserve the historical and cultural heritage of South Carolina.

S
ECTION 3.
S
ection
60-15-90
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
60-15-90
. The
Commission
State
Department of Education
shall be the official agency of the State to
receive and disburse any funds made available by the Federal Government for
programs related to the creative and interpretive arts.

S
ECTION 4.
S
ection
60-15-60
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
60-15-60
.
T
he duties of the
commission

State Superintendent of Education
shall
include but not be limited to the following:

(
1)
To
to
stimulate and encourage
throughout the State the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts
and public interest and participation therein
including,
but not limited to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture
and allied arts and crafts
;

(
2)
To make such studies as may be deemed advisable of public and
private institutions engaged within the State in artistic and cultural
activities, including but not limited to music, theater, dance, painting,
sculpture, architecture and allied arts and crafts, and to make recommendations
concerning appropriate methods to encourage participation in and appreciation
of the arts to meet the legitimate needs and aspirations of persons in all
parts of the State
to advance the arts as a valuable
component of a well-rounded education
;

(
3)
To
to
take such steps as may
be necessary and appropriate to encourage public interest in the cultural
heritage of the State of South Carolina
and to expand the
State's cultural resources
; and

(
4)
To
to
do such other things as
may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

S
ECTION 5.
S
ection
60-15-80
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
60-15-80
. The
commission
State
Department of Education
shall make an annual report to the Governor and
the legislature and shall make such other reports as it deems necessary.

S
ECTION 6. Chapter
15, Title 60 of the S.C. Code is redesignated "South Carolina Arts Initiatives."

S
ECTION 7. Sections
60-15-20
,
60-15-30
,
60-15-40
,
60-15-50
,
60-15-70
, and
60-15-75
of the S.C. Code
are repealed.

S
ECTION 8. This act takes effect on January 1,
2027.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM