Palmetto Plain

South Carolina · H.3831 / Act 108

Smart Heart Act (H.3831, Act 108): cardiac emergency plans and AEDs at SC school athletic venues

Effective July 1, 2026

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The short version

  • The Smart Heart Act (H.3831, Act No. 108) took effect July 1, 2026. Its requirements apply beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
  • Every public school district and charter school board must write a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) for sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds, and schools with interscholastic athletics must cover practices and games too.
  • Subject to funding, each public school must keep an AED (automated external defibrillator) reachable from each on-campus athletic venue, unlocked and with signs, during the school day and during school-sponsored athletic events and practices.
  • All athletic coaches must keep up training in CPR, first aid and AED use. Private schools whose teams play public schools must follow the same rules for those sports.
Status
Law. Signed by the Governor March 30, 2026; ratified as R115, Act No. 108. Took effect July 1, 2026; applies beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
Official source
SC Legislature, 2025-2026 Bill 3831 (Act No. 108)
Ratified text of Act No. 108 (Word)

What it does

The act adds a new Section 59-17-165 to the S.C. Code on cardiac emergency response plans and rewrites Section 59-17-155 on AED programs in schools. (Act No. 108, title and Sections 2–3)

Cardiac emergency response plans. Each public school district or charter school board of trustees must develop a plan for how school staff respond when someone has a sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on school grounds. Districts and charter schools with interscholastic athletics must also cover school-sponsored practices and events. (§ 59-17-165(B)–(C)) Every plan must include at least: (§ 59-17-165(D)(1))

  • a school-level cardiac emergency response team, and how it is activated;
  • where AEDs are placed on each campus and how they are maintained;
  • ongoing training of designated staff in CPR and AED use;
  • periodic practice, which may include drills;
  • working local medical resources into the plan; and
  • an annual review.

The State Board of Education must set the standards districts follow, and districts must work with local emergency services to fit EMS protocols into their plans. An athletics department policy that already meets or exceeds these elements counts. (§ 59-17-165(D)(1)–(3))

AEDs at athletic venues. Subject to funding by the General Assembly or the S.C. Department of Education, each public school, including charter schools, must make sure that: (§ 59-17-155(B))

  • an AED is accessible from each on-campus athletic venue, in an unlocked location with signs, during the school day and whenever a school-sponsored athletic event or team practice is happening;
  • the host team makes an AED available at off-site athletic events (if it cannot, the entity sanctioning the event must make sure one is there);
  • each AED is tested and maintained according to the manufacturer, and local EMS is told what type is available and where; and
  • all athletics coaches obtain and keep training in CPR, first aid and AED use.

An EMS provider, athletic trainer, school nurse or coach on site with an AED satisfies the venue and event requirements. (§ 59-17-155(B)(1)–(2)) High schools must still have an AED program with an operational AED on school grounds, trained users, and inspection guidelines. (§ 59-17-155(A))

Who it affects

  • Students, families and spectators at school sports in public and charter schools. (§§ 59-17-155(B), 59-17-165(C))
  • Private schools, as defined in Section 59-1-110, or private institutions whose teams compete against public or charter schools, for those teams or sports. (§ 59-17-165(F))
  • Coaches, school nurses and athletic trainers. Subject to funding, staff named in the plan, which may include coaches, nurses and athletic trainers, must be trained in first aid, CPR and AED use. (§ 59-17-165(G))

What it means for you

  • Starting with the 2027-2028 school year, your child’s school district or charter school should have a written cardiac emergency plan, and AEDs should be reachable from on-campus athletic venues. (Act Section 5; § 59-17-155(B))
  • People who act under the law, including school staff and volunteers who give first aid, CPR or use an AED under the plan, are protected from civil or criminal liability, except for gross negligence or wilful, wanton or reckless conduct. (§ 59-17-165(H))
  • Giving first aid, CPR or AED treatment under the section is not the practice of medicine or nursing. (§ 59-17-165(H)(4))

Cost and impact

The act does not include a cost estimate. Several requirements, including the venue AEDs and staff training, are “subject to funding” by the General Assembly or the Department of Education. The Department must pursue public and private funding and help districts apply for federal funds, and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority may set up a state contract for buying AEDs. (§§ 59-17-155(B), (E)–(F); 59-17-165(G))

Current status

The House passed the bill 108–0 on second reading on April 8, 2025. The Senate amended it and approved it 40–0 on March 17, 2026, and the House agreed to the Senate amendment 117–0 on March 25, 2026. It was ratified March 25 and signed by the Governor on March 30, 2026, as Act No. 108. (Bill history)

What happens next

The act took effect July 1, 2026, and its provisions apply beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The Department of Education must adopt regulations as needed to carry it out. (Act Sections 4–5)

Sources

Legislators connected to this bill

Current members listed as sponsors on the official bill page, or with a sourced public statement about it. Details and sources are on each member page.

SC House

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Every statement above is drawn from the official source text linked here; section references are shown in grey. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.