Resolution criteria

This market resolves YES if the South Carolina General Assembly passes a bill that eliminates non-medical vaccine exemptions (including religious exemptions) for school-aged children and daycare attendees before March 1, 2026. The bill must be signed into law by the Governor. Resolution will be verified through the South Carolina Legislature Online bill tracking system.

Background

South Carolina currently allows only medical and religious exemptions to vaccine requirements for daycare and school-aged children. A religious exemption is granted to a childcare or K-12 student whose parent(s), guardian(s), or person in loco parentis signs and has notarized the South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption form. No personal belief or philosophical exemptions currently exist in South Carolina.

Considerations

The South Carolina legislature has historically moved in the opposite direction. A bill prohibiting vaccine mandates in some future pandemic advanced in the Senate in March 2025, which would make it illegal for companies, colleges, nonprofits and state agencies to require employees, students and customers to get certain vaccines. This reflects the current political climate favoring vaccine choice rather than elimination of exemptions.