All Roll Calls
Yes: 191 • No: 1
Sponsored By: Brandon Newton (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Tort Reform and Liquor Liability
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5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
If a defendant is found less than 50% at fault, they pay only their share of the damages. Those who act willfully, recklessly, intentionally, or with illegal drugs remain fully liable for all damages. Courts can assign fault to people not in the case if they are named within 180 days, with listed exceptions like immune or intentional actors. For cases after January 1, 2026, a defendant can add a DUI‑charged person to the verdict form; if both a licensee and that DUI defendant are found liable, the licensee is on the hook for 50% of the plaintiff’s actual damages.
Beginning January 1, 2026, on-premises sellers open after 5:00 p.m. must keep liquor liability coverage with at least a $1,000,000 annual aggregate and per-incident limits at least 50% of the aggregate. The Department can suspend or revoke licenses for lapses, and insurers must tell the state within 30 days if a policy ends. A risk program lets you cut the required aggregate, such as $250,000 off if you stop serving by midnight, and $100,000 off for each of: trained staff within 60 days, alcohol under 40% of sales, and using a forensic digital ID system (floor is $300,000). Nonprofits or single‑event permits can cut $500,000; late‑night sellers (12–4 a.m.) must use a forensic ID system. Insurers offer reasonable premium discounts, and captive insurers may sell this coverage but cannot use eroding limits that shrink with defense costs.
It is illegal to knowingly sell liquor to an intoxicated person. For beer and wine permit violations, a first offense brings a $2,500 fine. A second offense within two years can suspend the license up to 14 days, and a third within three years can revoke it. These penalties are on top of any civil lawsuits.
Beer and wine sales at college sports venues are banned unless the permit holder meets safety steps. Staff must have approved server training, run random checks, use approved ID tech, stop sales in student-section areas, and refuse vertical IDs. The Department can lower penalties if you acted in good faith and used the safety steps. The Department must also build a special fee and penalty plan for these venues by August 31, 2025, based on venue size, locations, sales, staffing, and event frequency.
Alcohol servers and managers must finish approved training and hold a certificate. New hires without a certificate must be trained within 30 days, and servers must not be impaired while serving. Courses are online, at least four hours, in English and Spanish, with a test; providers can charge up to $50 and must report completions within 10 business days and keep records five years. Certificates are free to issue or renew, last three years, and you must apply within six months of finishing the course; temporary certificates may last up to 30 days. Employers must keep copies on-site and may require employees who leave within six months to repay training costs; the Department can set detailed rules.
Brandon Newton
Republican • House
Nathan Ballentine
Republican • House
Bruce W. Bannister
Republican • House
Jeff Bradley
Republican • House
Gary S. Brewer, Jr.
Republican • House
T. Case Brittain, Jr.
Republican • House
Cody T. Mitchell
Republican • House
Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV
Republican • House
Donald G. "Don" Chapman
Republican • House
Neal A. Collins
Republican • House
Heather Ammons Crawford
Republican • House
Shannon S. Erickson
Republican • House
Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr.
Republican • House
Craig A. Gagnon
Republican • House
Gil Gatch
Republican • House
Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam
Republican • House
Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.
Republican • House
William "Bill" Hager
Republican • House
Kevin Hardee
Republican • House
Charles V. Hartz
Republican • House
Lee Hewitt
Republican • House
David R. Hiott
Republican • House
William M. "Bill" Hixon
Republican • House
Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr.
Republican • House
Kathy Landing
Republican • House
M. Brian Lawson
Republican • House
Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon
Republican • House
Steven Wayne Long
Republican • House
Marvin "Mark" Smith
Republican • House
David Martin
Republican • House
Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis
Republican • House
Murphy
Affiliation unavailable
Mike M. Neese
Republican • House
Melissa Lackey Oremus
Republican • House
Fawn M. Pedalino
Republican • House
Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Republican • House
Luke S. Rankin
Republican • House
Robby Robbins
Republican • House
Richard Blake Sanders
Republican • House
Carla M. Schuessler
Republican • House
Heath Sessions
Republican • House
Bill Taylor
Republican • House
James E. Teeple
Republican • House
David Vaughan
Republican • House
Wm. Weston J. Newton
Republican • House
William R. "Bill" Whitmire
Republican • House
Paul B. Wickensimer
Republican • House
Mark N. Willis
Republican • House
Richard L. "Richie" Yow
Republican • House
All Roll Calls
Yes: 191 • No: 1
Senate vote • 5/7/2025
(Tort Reform and Liquor Liability)to concur
Yes: 41 • No: 1 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 4/1/2025
(Tort Reform and Liquor Liability)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2025
(Tort Reform and Liquor Liability)Passage of Bill
Yes: 105 • No: 0
Act No. 42
Effective date See Act for Effective Date
Signed By Governor
Ratified R 61
Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-1
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
Returned to Senate with amendments
Senate amendment amended
Debate adjourned
Debate adjourned
Amended
Debate adjourned
Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-24-25
Debate adjourned
Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-10-25
Scrivener's error corrected
Scrivener's error corrected
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
Read second time
Committee Amendment Adopted
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Finance
Referred to Committee on Finance
Introduced and read first time
Read third time and sent to Senate
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
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
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
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
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
S 1062, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO DETERMINATION OF RATES OF TUITION AND FEES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 5443, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.
JR to Approve Reg. Doc. No. 5443