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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

H 5504: Foreign Influence Operations Out of American Education Act

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 5504 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on April 2, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Foreign Influence Operations Out of American Education Act. Primary sponsor: Heather Crawford (Republican), Murrell Smith (Republican), James Teeple (Republican), Cody Mitchell (Republican), Beth Bernstein (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (April 30, 2026): Referred to Committee on Education.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FOREIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS OUT OF AMERICAN EDUCATION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-425 SO AS TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FROM SOLICITING OR ACCEPTING CERTAIN GIFTS OR TRAVEL FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARY NATIONS, FOREIGN PRINCIPALS, OR FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, TO RESTRICT FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON HIRING, CURRICULUM, AND CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF GIFTS AND CONTRACTS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND FOREIGN PRINCIPALS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 4

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Heather CrawfordPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse68
Murrell SmithPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse67
James TeeplePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse116
Cody MitchellPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse65
Beth BernsteinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse78

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Referred to Committee on Education
  2. Introduced and read first time
  3. Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-0
  4. Read third time and sent to Senate
  5. Scrivener's error corrected
  6. Roll call Yeas-91 Nays-13
  7. Read second time
  8. Amended
  9. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bernstein
  10. Debate adjourned
  11. Requests for debate-Rep(s). McDaniel, King, Govan, McGinnis, Erickson, Hardee, Crawford, Bailey, Vaughan, Dilliard, Bauer, Guest, Williams, Hosey, Henderson-Myers, Water, Jones, Scott
  12. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: C.Mitchell

Showing 12 most recent of 17 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source