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S 1213

South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Wes Climer and 1 co-sponsor

The bill creates school-based privacy protections for K-12 students’ physical state data, restricting who can access or disclose it and how it’s stored.

Referred to Committee on Education
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1213

South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act (S. 1213)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes protections for K-12 students in South Carolina regarding the privacy and access to students’ physical state and related information while at school.
  • Aims to regulate how schools, staff, and third parties may interact with or request students’ physical privacy data, seeking to safeguard student dignity and safety in educational settings.

Key provisions and changes (highlights)

  • Privacy protections for students: Sets standards governing the handling, storage, and disclosure of information about a student’s body, appearance, or any intimate or private physical state observed or collected in a school environment.
  • Limitation on requests and disclosures: Specifies who may request sensitive physical information, under what circumstances, and imposes restrictions on sharing such information with non-authorized individuals or entities.
  • Access to facilities: Addresses access to student restrooms or changing facilities, reinforcing the privacy rights of students and outlining procedures or restrictions to prevent inappropriate or unlawful access.
  • Consent and notice requirements: May require parental notification or consent for certain types of privacy-related data collection or for specific activities impacting student privacy.
  • Data handling protocols: Establishes responsible data management practices within schools, including secure storage, limited retention periods, and procedures for correcting or challenging inaccuracies.
  • Enforcement and remedies: Creates avenues for complaints, investigations, and potential disciplinary or corrective actions if privacy protections are violated.
  • Compliance with existing law: Aligns new protections with current state privacy, safety, and confidentiality statutes and school district policies.

Who is affected

  • Students: Primary beneficiaries of enhanced privacy protections regarding physical privacy in school settings.
  • School districts and schools: Entities responsible for implementing privacy protocols, training staff, and ensuring compliance with the act.
  • School personnel: Staff and administrators who handle student information or have access to private physical data; subject to new guidelines, limitations, and potential disciplinary measures for violations.
  • Parents/guardians: May have enhanced rights or notification requirements related to privacy practices and incidents.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced and read for the first time on March 27, 2024, and referred to the Senate Committee on Education for consideration.
  • Action history indicates standard committee process steps typically involving hearings, potential amendments, and a floor vote before moving to the next legislative stage.
  • As a 2025-2026 session bill, it would follow the legislative calendar for South Carolina, including committee deliberations, possible revisions, and votes in both chambers, with eventual approval or rejection and potential gubernatorial action.

Notes and considerations

  • Specifics such as exact definitions of “physical privacy,” precise data categories protected, retention periods, and the exact scope of facilities-related protections are not provided in the brief action history. The bill’s full text would clarify terms, exceptions (e.g., for medical or safety reasons), and enforcement mechanisms.
  • The level of controversy or support among educators, parents, and civil rights groups would depend on the final language, particularly around parental notification, staff training requirements, and any exemptions.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the bill’s full text to extract precise definitions, prohibited practices, authorized disclosures, and any fiscal impact provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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