All Roll Calls
Yes: 981 • No: 0
Sponsored By: G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Unlawful occupants of property
Personalized for You
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6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Homeowners can file a verified petition for an immediate court order to remove unlawful occupants from a home. Judges can issue an ex parte order for good cause and must hold a hearing within 24 hours. The petition must state there is no lease or permission, the place was not open to the public, you told them to leave and they refused, they are not immediate family, and no related case is pending. Orders can bar entry or contact and, after the hearing, can permanently remove the person and make them pay repair and court costs. A sheriff or constable gets the standard service fee and may charge a reasonable hourly standby rate that you must pay; officials and owners have limited liability after service.
If you were removed without just cause under this process, you can sue. You can get possession back, recover actual damage to your personal property (up to its value), $1,000 in statutory damages, and court costs. Any award is reduced by proven damage you caused to the real property.
If you appeal an ejectment judgment, you can get a stay by filing an affidavit promising to pay rent set by the judge as it comes due. The court must stay ejectment once it accepts the affidavit, until the appeal is decided. If you miss a payment and do not pay within five days, the stay ends and the landlord can get a warrant and the sheriff can remove you. Courts can adjust the payment terms after a quick hearing; you must keep paying or put payments into escrow during that time. For higher appeals, you must file the affidavit with the appellate court using amounts set by the circuit court.
Unlawfully occupying a home and intentionally causing $1,000 or more in damage is now a felony with up to five years in prison. Knowingly listing property for sale without legal title, or renting/leasing without any lawful interest, is a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine or 30 days in jail. Knowingly giving a false lease, deed, or similar paper to stay on property is a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail or a fine.
If someone breaks an ex parte removal order after notice, an officer with probable cause must arrest them. Notice can be service, any actual communication likely to inform them, or when an officer shows a copy. Violating the order is a felony with up to three years in prison or a $3,000 fine. Officers who act in good faith are protected from civil lawsuits.
RV park operators can remove guests for illegal drugs, disturbing others, breaking posted rules, damaging the park, or not paying rent on time. They must give a written notice that warns of a misdemeanor; staying after notice can mean up to a $300 fine or 30 days in jail. If you prepaid, the operator must return the unused rent when giving notice. If you owe more than three nights’ rent, the operator can cut off utilities after written notice and must reconnect if you sign a written agreement to pay. Operators may ask law enforcement to remove guests and must safeguard left property, usually allowing up to 48 hours to pick it up.
G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Republican • House
Brandon Newton
Republican • House
Brandon L. Cox
Republican • House
Jeff Bradley
Republican • House
Gary S. Brewer, Jr.
Republican • House
James Mikell "Mike" Burns
Republican • House
Cody T. Mitchell
Republican • House
Paula Rawl Calhoon
Republican • House
Donald G. "Don" Chapman
Republican • House
William M. "Bill" Chumley
Republican • House
Heather Ammons Crawford
Republican • House
April Cromer
Republican • House
Sylleste H. Davis
Republican • House
Sarita L. Edgerton
Republican • House
Shannon S. Erickson
Republican • House
Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr.
Republican • House
Thomas Lee Gilreath
Republican • House
Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.
Republican • House
Charles V. Hartz
Republican • House
Lee Hewitt
Republican • House
William M. "Bill" Hixon
Republican • House
Harriet A. Holman
Republican • House
Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon
Republican • House
Steven Wayne Long
Republican • House
Marvin "Mark" Smith
Republican • House
John R. McCravy III
Republican • House
Murphy
Affiliation unavailable
Melissa Lackey Oremus
Republican • House
Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Republican • House
Robby Robbins
Republican • House
Bill Taylor
Republican • House
Wm. Weston J. Newton
Republican • House
Robert Q. Williams
Democrat • House
All Roll Calls
Yes: 981 • No: 0
Senate vote • 6/25/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)to adopt the conference report
Yes: 40 • No: 0
House vote • 6/25/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)Adopt Conference Report
Yes: 103 • No: 0
House vote • 5/13/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)Adopt Amendment 1A Amendment number 1A
Yes: 114 • No: 0
House vote • 5/13/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)Adopt Amendment 1A Amendment number 1A
Yes: 114 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/6/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)3rd Reading
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/6/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)3rd Reading
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
(Unlawful occupants of property)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
(Unlawful occupants of property)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
(Unlawful occupants of property)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
(Unlawful occupants of property)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
(Unlawful occupants of property)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
Act No. 252
Effective date 06/30/26
Signed By Governor
Ratified R 269
Ordered enrolled for ratification
Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
Conference report received and adopted
Roll call Yeas-103 Nays-0
Conference report received and adopted
Conference committee appointed Johnson, Elliott, Devine
House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. T Moore, McCabe, Spann-Wilder
Non-concurrence in House amendment
Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0
Returned to Senate with amendments
Senate amendment amended
Debate adjourned
Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
Scrivener's error corrected
Amended
Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
Read second time
Committee Amendment Adopted
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced
S 0623, AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO INSTEAD ENFORCE AE STANDARDS IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY'S FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE.
Georgetown County Building Requirements
S 1162, AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 509 OF 1982, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF TRUSTEES OF ANDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SIX MEMBERS OF THE SEVEN-MEMBER GOVERNING BODY MUST BE ELECTED FROM SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.
Anderson County School District No. 2
S 0769, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUING AUTHORITY TO PAY THE EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT IF THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR BEGINS WITHOUT A GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 HAVING BEEN ENACTED, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.
Continuing Resolution
S 0779, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEMBERS WHOSE SEATS WERE VACATED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND THE MEMBERS ELECTED TO FILL THE VACANCY; AND TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHOSE SEATS WERE VACATED DUE TO THE MEMBER BEING CONVICTED OF OR PLEADING GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDERE TO A FELONY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO A LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PAYMENT PURSUANT TO THIS JOINT RESOLUTION.
Legislative Expense Allowance
H 5261, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING AS PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 3, TITLE 61 TO MAY 1, 2026.
Alcohol Server Training
H 5127, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE MONIES FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, AND TO ALLOW UNEXPENDED FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEARS AND EXPENDED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES.
Capital Reserve Fund appropriation