All Roll Calls
Yes: 262 • No: 0
South CarolinaH 3650126th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-1-60, RELATING TO OFFENSES DEFINED AS VIOLENT CRIMES, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE OFFENSE OF DISCHARGING FIREARMS AT OR INTO A DWELLING HOUSE, OTHER BUILDING, STRUCTURE, ENCLOSURE, VEHICLE, AIRCRAFT, WATERCRAFT, OR OTHER CONVEYANCE, DEVICE, OR EQUIPMENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-23-440, RELATING TO DISCHARGING FIREARMS INTO A DWELLING HOUSE, OTHER BUILDING, STRUCTURE, ENCLOSURE, VEHICLE, AIRCRAFT, WATERCRAFT, OR OTHER CONVEYANCE, DEVICE, OR EQUIPMENT, SO AS TO CREATE A TIERED PENALTY STRUCTURE.
Sponsored By: G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Discharging firearms into dwellings and other structures
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Shooting into homes is a violent crime
Beginning May 15, 2026, South Carolina treats firing a gun at or into a home, building, vehicle, or similar place as a violent crime. This status lets courts apply tougher sentences and other legal limits that come with violent offenses. Only crimes listed in the violent‑crimes statute count as violent crimes.
Felony penalties for shooting into homes, cars
Beginning May 15, 2026, it is a felony to fire a gun at or into an occupied home, building, or enclosure. It is also a felony to fire at or into an occupied vehicle, boat, or aircraft. A conviction can bring up to a $20,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison. If someone inside is hit or injured, penalties rise to up to $50,000 and up to 15 years. These crimes require that the person acts knowingly and unlawfully, or with reckless disregard for life. The law does not apply to lawful defense of life or property, and drones are not treated as aircraft.
Hunting mishaps not charged under this law
Starting May 15, 2026, a criminally negligent gun discharge while getting ready for, during, or returning from hunting is not charged under this section. This applies when the act violates Section 50-1-85. Other criminal charges can still apply.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brandon Newton
Republican • House
William H. Bailey
Republican • House
Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV
Republican • House
Donald G. "Don" Chapman
Republican • House
Heather Ammons Crawford
Republican • House
Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr.
Republican • House
Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.
Republican • House
William M. "Bill" Hixon
Republican • House
Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Republican • House
Robby Robbins
Republican • House
Bill Taylor
Republican • House
Wm. Weston J. Newton
Republican • House
Chris Wooten
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
(Discharging firearms into dwellings and other structures)Concur in Senate Amendments
Yes: 106 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/15/2026
(Discharging firearms into dwellings and other structures)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2025
(Discharging firearms into dwellings and other structures)Passage of Bill
Yes: 111 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 138
5/26/2026legislatureEffective date 05/15/26
5/26/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
5/15/2026GovernorRatified R 181
5/14/2026legislatureRoll call Yeas-106 Nays-0
4/23/2026HouseConcurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
4/23/2026HouseScrivener's error corrected
4/22/2026legislatureRead third time and returned to House with amendments
4/16/2026SenateRoll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
4/15/2026SenateRead second time
4/15/2026SenateAmended
4/15/2026SenateCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary
4/16/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Judiciary
3/6/2025SenateIntroduced and read first time
3/6/2025SenateRead third time and sent to Senate
3/5/2025HouseRoll call Yeas-111 Nays-0
3/4/2025HouseRead second time
3/4/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Forrest, B.Newton, Hixon, Taylor
3/4/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey
2/27/2025HouseCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary
2/26/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Crawford, Guest
2/13/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Robbins
1/30/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Bailey
1/29/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Judiciary
1/14/2025HouseIntroduced and read first time
1/14/2025House
Bill Text
Introduced
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 DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE.
Georgetown County Building Requirements
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 TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SHALL RECEIVE NINETY DOLLARS FOR EACH MEETING AT WHICH HE IS IN ATTENDANCE AND THAT THE CHAIRMAN SHALL RECEIVE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL NOT OCCUR MORE THAN EIGHTEEN TIMES EACH FISCAL YEAR.
Kershaw County Transportation Committee
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 CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD, THE MANNER IN WHICH BOARD ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH VACANCIES ON THE BOARD ARE FILLED; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
Lee County School District Board of Trustees
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
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