Columbia, S.C. — Senator Margie Bright Matthews has introduced legislation that aims to strengthen South Carolina’s immunization requirements for students in K–12 schools, child care settings, scholarship-supported private schools, and public institutions of higher education in response to the measles outbreak affecting communities across the state.
The bill updates state law to require documented measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination for school and college attendance and removes the religious exemption for the MMR vaccine, while preserving legitimate medical exemptions. The legislation also aligns scholarship eligibility and enrollment standards with updated immunization requirements to better protect students, families, and educators.
“Right now, South Carolina is facing one of the most serious measles outbreaks in decades,” said Senator Margie Bright Matthews (pictured). “Measles is not a harmless childhood illness; it is highly contagious and can lead to hospitalization and even death. This legislation is about protecting children, protecting classrooms, and protecting communities with clear, medically grounded standards.”
Under the proposed legislation, students attending public schools, child care facilities, and public colleges and universities must show proof of MMR vaccination or a valid medical exemption. The bill also ensures that students receiving certain state-supported education scholarships meet the same immunization standards. Temporary special exemptions remain available for short transition periods while records are obtained, but ongoing attendance will require compliance.
Senator Matthews emphasized that the measure is focused on public health and continuity of education.
“When outbreaks spread through schools, the consequences are immediate: students are quarantined, classrooms are disrupted, and families are put at risk,” Matthews said. “We have already seen hundreds of children excluded from school due to exposure. Strong vaccination standards help keep schools open and safe.”
The bill relies on guidance from public health authorities regarding herd immunity thresholds and outbreak control and is designed to reduce preventable illness while ensuring that medical exemptions remain fully protected.
“This is a prevention bill,” Matthews added. “It is about using the best available public health tools to stop avoidable suffering and stabilize our school environments. Our responsibility is to act when the data and the danger are clear.”
The legislation has been filed and will be taken up for consideration during the current legislative session.