# South Carolina H 3557: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-15, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO SHORTEN THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD, TO PROVIDE FILING FEES FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING NOMINATION BY POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARY OR CONVENTION, TO ALLOW POLITICAL PARTIES TO CHARGE CANDIDATES A CERTIFICATION FEE, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR A STATE OR COUNTY COMMITTEE TO ALLOW ENTRY OF OTHER CANDIDATES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER A CANDIDATE HAS DIED OR WITHDRAWN; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-210, RELATING TO THE FILING OF PARTY PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-40, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND USE OF CANDIDATE FILING FEES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-190, RELATING TO SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES IN OFFICE, SO AS TO AMEND THE APPLICABLE DATES FOR CANDIDATE FILING AND THE CONDUCT OF SPECIAL PRIMARIES, SPECIAL RUNOFF PRIMARIES, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS. South Carolina H 3557, AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-15, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO SHORTEN THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD, TO PROVIDE FILING FEES FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING NOMINATION BY POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARY OR CONVENTION, TO ALLOW POLITICAL PARTIES TO CHARGE CANDIDATES A CERTIFICATION FEE, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR A STATE OR COUNTY COMMITTEE TO ALLOW ENTRY OF OTHER CANDIDATES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER A CANDIDATE HAS DIED OR WITHDRAWN; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-210, RELATING TO THE FILING OF PARTY PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-40, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND USE OF CANDIDATE FILING FEES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-190, RELATING TO SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES IN OFFICE, SO AS TO AMEND THE APPLICABLE DATES FOR CANDIDATE FILING AND THE CONDUCT OF SPECIAL PRIMARIES, SPECIAL RUNOFF PRIMARIES, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS., is a 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Brandon Newton (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Act No. 137); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H3557-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: South Carolina H 3557 - State: South Carolina - Session: 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-15, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO SHORTEN THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD, TO PROVIDE FILING FEES FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING NOMINATION BY POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARY OR CONVENTION, TO ALLOW POLITICAL PARTIES TO CHARGE CANDIDATES A CERTIFICATION FEE, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR A STATE OR COUNTY COMMITTEE TO ALLOW ENTRY OF OTHER CANDIDATES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER A CANDIDATE HAS DIED OR WITHDRAWN; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-210, RELATING TO THE FILING OF PARTY PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-40, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND USE OF CANDIDATE FILING FEES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-190, RELATING TO SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES IN OFFICE, SO AS TO AMEND THE APPLICABLE DATES FOR CANDIDATE FILING AND THE CONDUCT OF SPECIAL PRIMARIES, SPECIAL RUNOFF PRIMARIES, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2024-12-05 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Act No. 137 - Sponsor: Brandon Newton (Republican) - Cosponsors: 6 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (294 yes, 64 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary Candidate filing ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New candidate fees for party nominations: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, candidates who seek a party nomination must pay a filing fee equal to 1% of the total salary for the full term or $100, whichever is higher. Candidates for lieutenant governor do not pay these fees. Parties may also charge a one-time certification fee up to $100 if they t… - June primary date for most offices: mixed, low. Starting January 1, 2027, most primaries for federal (not presidential), state, multi-county, countywide, and smaller local offices happen on the second Tuesday in June of general election years. Municipal primaries are not covered. Another law or ordinance can set a different date if it specifical… - Standard filing window and paperwork for candidates: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the filing window to seek a party nomination runs from noon March 16 to noon March 25, with weekend or holiday adjustments. Where to file is set: multi-county and statewide offices file with the State Election Commission; countywide and smaller offices file with the count… - Unified schedule for special elections: mixed, low. Effective July 1, 2026, for vacancies on or after that date, filing opens at noon on the third Friday after the vacancy and closes seven days later at noon, with holiday shifts. Primaries are held on or after the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy, runoffs two weeks later, and special elections on… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon Newton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Heather Ammons Crawford (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Hixon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Fawn M. Pedalino (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Carla M. Schuessler (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Bill Taylor (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-15 | House | (Candidate filing)Concur in Senate Amendments | pass | 85 | 22 | | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | (Candidate filing)2nd Reading | pass | 40 | 1 | | | 2025-03-26 | House | (Candidate filing)Passage of Bill | pass | 87 | 18 | | | 2025-03-26 | House | (Candidate filing)Table Amendment 2 Amendment number 2 | pass | 82 | 23 | | ## Actions (27) - 2026-05-26: Act No. 137 (legislature) - 2026-05-26: Effective date See Act for Effective Date (legislature) - 2026-05-15: Signed By Governor (Governor) - 2026-05-14: Ratified R 178 (legislature) - 2026-04-15: Roll call Yeas-85 Nays-22 (House) - 2026-04-15: Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House) - 2026-04-01: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature) - 2026-04-01: Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-1 (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Amended (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Introduced and read first time (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature) - 2025-03-27: Read third time and sent to Senate (House) - 2025-03-26: Roll call Yeas-87 Nays-18 (House) - 2025-03-26: Read second time (House) - 2025-03-26: Amended (House) - 2025-03-26: Requests for debate-Rep (House) - 2025-03-26: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Schuessler, Hixon (House) - 2025-03-20: Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House) - 2025-02-26: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Guest, Crawford (House) - 2025-01-14: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House) - 2025-01-14: Introduced and read first time (House) - 2024-12-05: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House) - 2024-12-05: Prefiled (House) ## Bill text - Introduced: [HTML](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/3557.htm) ## Related bills - 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 DAMA… (became law) - S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATIO… (signed) - H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD BY WHICH PERSONS FILE TO BECOME A CANDI… (signed) - 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 RE… (signed) - 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 PROVID… (signed) - 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. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/3557.htm) ## Related - [S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO AL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0623-2025-2026) - [S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0586-2025-2026) - [H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD O…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5653-2025-2026) - [S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDU…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S1062-2025-2026) - [S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0779-2025-2026) - [H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5261-2025-2026) - [South Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina/bills) - [South Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H3557-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).