South Carolina Fostering Futures Act

2025-2026 Bill 824: South Carolina Fostering Futures Act - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 824
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Reichenbach, Hutto, Devine and Zell
Companion/Similar bill(s): 5008
Document Path: LC-0595WAB26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 15, 2026
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Education
Summary: South Carolina Fostering Futures Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/15/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 6
)

1/15/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Education
(
Senate Journal-page 6
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/15/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT
THE "SOUTH CAROLINA FOSTERING FUTURES ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 111,
TITLE 59, so as TO REQUIRE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO WAIVE
TUITION AND FEES FOR CERTAIN CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH; TO PROVIDE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND LIMITS; AND TO REQUIRE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND
REPORTING.

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

S
ECTION 1.
This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Fostering Futures Act."

S
ECTION 2.
C
hapter 111, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

A
rticle 11

F
ree Tuition for Certain Current and Former Foster
Youth

S
ection
59-111-910
.
(
A) All
state-supported colleges and universities, as defined in Section
59-103-5
,
shall waive the payment of tuition and fees for certain current and former
foster youth who are enrolled in a program of study for an undergraduate
certificate, diploma, or first bachelor's degree.

(
B)
For purposes of this section, "certain current and former foster youth" means
an individual who is not older than twenty-five years of age and:

(
1)
was in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services (DSS) on the day
of the individual's eighteenth birthday before exiting foster care;

(
2)
is currently in the legal custody of DSS under extended foster care;

(
3)
was adopted from DSS foster care at age thirteen or later; or

(
4)
was in the legal custody of DSS foster care for three or more cumulative years.

(
C)
Eligibility for the waiver under this section may continue through completion
of the first bachelor's degree or until the eligible student reaches the age of
twenty-six, whichever comes first. A double major completed within a single
bachelor's degree awarded must be treated as one degree for purposes of this
section. A student is not required to maintain continuous enrollment to retain
eligibility. The waiver must remain available upon transfer between public
institutions if the student remains otherwise eligible.

(
D)
The tuition waiver required by this section must apply to:

(
1)
tuition and fees only, and may not be construed to compel the waiver of room,
board, books, or nonmandatory course-specific fees;

(
2)
tuition for summer terms, winter, or other shortened academic terms; and

(
3)
tuition for institutionally sponsored, for-credit study abroad programs.

(
E)
A public institution of higher education may require documentation necessary to
confirm eligibility under this section, including verification of DSS custody
or adoption status. An institution only may ask for this verification once for
each student seeking eligibility confirmation.

(
F)
Each public institution of higher education that offers student housing shall
provide students eligible under this section with mandatory first priority
status to register for university-owned or university-affiliated housing.
Institutions must offer housing to students eligible under this section during
academic or holiday breaks, and over the summer if it is available to any
student population. The priority status required in this subsection must
continue for each term of enrollment through credential or degree completion if
the student remains otherwise eligible.

(
G)
Each public institution of higher education shall provide priority access to
federal work-study positions, and any campus-based student employment programs
administered by the institution, for students eligible under this section. The
priority status required in this subsection must continue for each term of
enrollment through credential or degree completion if the student remains
otherwise eligible.

(
H)
Each public institution of higher education shall designate at least one staff
member to serve as an institutional liaison for students eligible under this
section. The liaison must provide support and guidance related to college entry
processes, financial aid, the long-term responsibilities of student loans,
campus-based supports and services, and career exploration and planning. Each
institution shall publicly identify its liaisons and make contact information
for the liaisons readily accessible on the official website of the institution.

(
I)
Each public institution of higher education shall report annually before July
first to DSS deidentified, aggregate summary data regarding students eligible
under this section. The annual report must include, at a minimum:

(
1)
the number of eligible students enrolled;

(
2)
the academic programs or majors in which such students are enrolled; and

(
3)
academic progress of eligible students enrolled. An external evaluator must be
given access to institutional data to summarize waiver efficacy.

(
J)
Each public institution of higher education shall consider students eligible
under this section to be financially independent for purposes of federal and
state financial aid classification, including but not limited to, 20 U.S.C.
section 1087vv(d). An eligible student may not be required to provide parental
information or documentation of parental income.

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

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM