All Roll Calls
Yes: 270 • No: 0
South CarolinaH 3798126th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 25-1-180 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR MILITARY CHAPLAINS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT MILITARY CHAPLAINS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS.
Sponsored By: Murphy
Signed by Governor
Summary
Military chaplains
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
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Private talks with military chaplains protected
The law protects private talks with military chaplains. A talk is confidential when it is part of a religious act or a matter of conscience, or given to a chaplain in his official spiritual role. You can refuse to share what you told the chaplain and stop others from sharing it. Chaplains cannot share it unless you give informed, freely given, and specific consent. Commanders and courts cannot force disclosure when the privilege applies, though a judge can rule the privilege does not apply. The State applies this clergy‑penitent privilege to all militia classes and to active or reserve chaplains, even if not in status, when the member would normally be covered. These protections take effect March 9, 2026.
New standards for military chaplains
Chaplains in South Carolina militia units must be ordained and properly endorsed. Endorsement can come from the U.S. Department of Defense or an approved affiliate, the Adjutant General, or the State Guard Commander or a designee. They must also meet any added rules for their militia class. Chaplains must wear uniforms that clearly show they are chaplains, as defined by their militia class. The law also recognizes that chaplains hold privileged communications with militia members, authorized dependents, and authorized personnel, and the chaplain may claim that privilege for the person.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Murphy
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Jeff Bradley
Republican • House
Gary S. Brewer, Jr.
Republican • House
Cody T. Mitchell
Republican • House
Shannon S. Erickson
Republican • House
G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Republican • House
Wendell G. Gilliard
Democrat • House
Jerry N. Govan, Jr.
Democrat • House
Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.
Republican • House
William "Bill" Hager
Republican • House
Christopher R. "Chris" Hart
Democrat • House
M. Brian Lawson
Republican • House
Michael F. Rivers, Sr.
Democrat • House
Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis
Democrat • House
Travis A. Moore
Republican • House
Wm. Weston J. Newton
Republican • House
J. David Weeks
Democrat • House
Robert Q. Williams
Democrat • House
Richard L. "Richie" Yow
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/3/2026
(Military chaplains)Concur in Senate Amendments
Yes: 113 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
(Military chaplains)2nd Reading
Yes: 44 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2025
(Military chaplains)Passage of Bill
Yes: 113 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 104
3/12/2026legislatureEffective date 03/09/26
3/12/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
3/9/2026GovernorRatified R 109
3/5/2026legislatureRoll call Yeas-113 Nays-0
3/3/2026HouseConcurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
3/3/2026HouseRead third time and returned to House with amendments
2/19/2026SenateRoll call Ayes-30 Nays-13
2/18/2026SenateRead second time
2/18/2026SenateAmended
2/18/2026SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted
2/18/2026SenateCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Family and Veterans' Services
2/11/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
2/19/2025SenateIntroduced and read first time
2/19/2025SenateRead third time and sent to Senate
2/19/2025HouseRoll call Yeas-113 Nays-0
2/18/2025HouseRead second time
2/18/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Hart, Williams, Rivers, Gilliard
2/18/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Weeks
2/13/2025HouseCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary
2/12/2025HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Govan, Erickson, Bradley
2/4/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Judiciary
1/28/2025HouseIntroduced and read first time
1/28/2025House
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 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
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 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
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