South Carolina Student Privacy Act Heads to Governor’s Desk

The South Carolina General Assembly has passed H. 4756, the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act, with the House concurring on Senate amendments on April 15, 2026. The bill now awaits Governor Henry McMaster’s signature.

If signed into law, the measure will require students at all public K-12 schools and universities in the state to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities that align with the sex listed on their original birth certificate. The legislation makes permanent what had previously been a year-to-year budget proviso covering K-12 schools, and extends those requirements to all public colleges and universities statewide.

Schools found out of compliance risk losing 25 percent of their state funding. The bill also requires every campus building to offer at least one single-user restroom option, and gives individuals the ability to pursue civil action against non-compliant institutions.

Supporters say the law protects the privacy and safety of women and girls in school settings. Critics, including the ACLU of South Carolina, have raised concerns about its impact on transgender students, and a related K-12 budget provision is currently being challenged in federal court.

For Laurens County families, the law would apply to public schools within the district as well as students attending any of the state’s 33 public colleges and universities.