Firearms, college campuses

2025-2026 Bill 5163: Firearms, college campuses - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5163
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Gilreath, Frank, Cromer, Huff, White, Edgerton, Pace, Magnuson, Harris and Kilmartin
Document Path: LC-0354HDB26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 11, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Firearms, college campuses
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/11/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 43
)

2/11/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 43
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/11/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
16-23-20
, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUNS, SO AS TO
CLARIFY THAT THE PROHIBITION AGAINST CARRYING A HANDGUN INTO A SCHOOL ATHLETIC
EVENT NOT RELATED TO FIREARMS APPLIES TO ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, BUT
NOT COLLEGES; AND BY REPEALING SECTION
16-23-420
RELATING TO POSSESSION OF A
FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

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

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
16-23-20
(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:

(
A) It is unlawful, whether or not the
person has a concealed weapon permit, for anyone to carry about the person any
handgun, whether concealed or not, unless otherwise specifically authorized by
law into a:

(
1)
law enforcement, correctional, or detention facility;

(
2)
courthouse, courtroom, or other publicly owned building, whether owned by the
State, a county, a municipality, or other political subdivision, where court is
held and during the time that court is in session;

(
3)
polling place on election days;

(
4)
office of or business meeting of the governing body of a county, public school
district, municipality, or special purpose district;

(
5)

elementary or secondary
school
or college
athletic event not related to firearms;

(
6)
daycare facility or preschool facility;

(
7)
place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law;

(
8)
church or other established religious sanctuary unless express permission is
given by the appropriate church official or governing body;

(
9)
hospital, medical clinic, doctor's office, or any other facility where medical
services or procedures are performed, unless expressly authorized by the
appropriate entity;

(
10)
residence or dwelling place of another person without the express permission of
the owner or person in legal control or possession of the residence or dwelling
place, as appropriate; or

(
11)
place clearly marked with a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealable
weapon on the premises in compliance with Section
23-31-235
. A person who
violates a provision of this item, whether the violation is wilful or not, only
may be charged with a violation of Section
16-11-620
and must not be charged
with or penalized for a violation of this subsection.

S
ECTION 2. Section
16-23-420
of the S.C. Code is repealed.

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 1:42 PM