South CarolinaH 4188126th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-590, RELATING TO DISPOSITION OF REMAINS OF UNIDENTIFIABLE DEAD BODIES BY CORONERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WHEN A BODY IS UNIDENTIFIABLE AND WHEN A BODY IS UNCLAIMED, AND TO AUTHORIZE CORONERS TO CREMATE SUCH REMAINS THIRTY DAYS FROM THE DATE OF DISCOVERY.

Sponsored By: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Coroners, disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Unclaimed veterans' remains to funeral homes

Beginning May 15, 2026, if a coroner has identified remains and the person is an unclaimed veteran, the coroner must release the remains to a funeral home, funeral establishment, or mortuary. The funeral provider handles the disposition under Chapter 12, Title 25.

30-day rule for unclaimed or unidentified remains

Beginning May 15, 2026, the law defines when a body is unidentifiable or unclaimed. Unidentifiable means the person’s identity is unknown or cannot be found after using all available methods. Unclaimed means no person can be found to take the body, or a found person cannot or will not pay for its disposition. Coroners or medical examiners may cremate the remains 30 days after the date of death or the date of discovery. They may also bury or inter the remains in a cemetery in the county where the body was found.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Brandon Newton

    Republican • House

  • Brandon L. Cox

    Republican • House

  • Gary S. Brewer, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Cody T. Mitchell

    Republican • House

  • Sylleste H. Davis

    Republican • House

  • Greg Ford

    Republican • House

  • Marvin "Mark" Smith

    Republican • House

  • Robby Robbins

    Republican • House

  • Richard L. "Richie" Yow

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 477 • No: 0

House vote • 5/13/2026

(Coroners, disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 114 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

(Coroners, disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains)2nd Reading

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2026

(Coroners, disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains)Passage of Bill

Yes: 106 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2026

(Coroners, disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains)Passage of Bill

Yes: 106 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2026

(Coroners, disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains)Passage of Bill

Yes: 106 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 145

    5/26/2026legislature
  2. Effective date 05/15/26

    5/26/2026legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/15/2026Governor
  4. Ratified R 191

    5/14/2026legislature
  5. Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0

    5/13/2026House
  6. Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled

    5/13/2026House
  7. Debate adjourned

    5/12/2026House
  8. Read third time and returned to House with amendments

    5/6/2026Senate
  9. Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0

    5/5/2026Senate
  10. Read second time

    5/5/2026Senate
  11. Amended

    5/5/2026Senate
  12. Committee Amendment Adopted

    5/5/2026Senate
  13. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary

    4/29/2026Senate
  14. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

    2/11/2026Senate
  15. Introduced and read first time

    2/11/2026Senate
  16. Read third time and sent to Senate

    2/11/2026House
  17. Roll call Yeas-106 Nays-0

    2/10/2026House
  18. Read second time

    2/10/2026House
  19. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow, C.Mitchell

    2/10/2026House
  20. Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

    2/5/2026House
  21. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith, B.L.Cox, Brewer, Ford, Davis, Robbins

    1/28/2026House
  22. Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

    3/20/2025House
  23. Introduced and read first time

    3/20/2025House

Bill Text

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