# South Carolina H 4668: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 2-19-115 SO AS TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR MAGISTRATE POSITIONS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER JUDICIAL CANDIDATES UPON VACANCIES, AND TO DEFINE WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-10, RELATING TO CIVIL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 22-8-30, RELATING TO THE FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL OF MAGISTRATES COURTS IN EACH COUNTY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PERSONNEL PROVIDED FOR MAGISTRATES IN EACH COUNTY TO INCLUDE ONE OR MORE LICENSED ATTORNEYS IN GOOD STANDING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR.

South Carolina H 4668, A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 2-19-115 SO AS TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR MAGISTRATE POSITIONS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER JUDICIAL CANDIDATES UPON VACANCIES, AND TO DEFINE WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-10, RELATING TO CIVIL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 22-8-30, RELATING TO THE FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL OF MAGISTRATES COURTS IN EACH COUNTY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PERSONNEL PROVIDED FOR MAGISTRATES IN EACH COUNTY TO INCLUDE ONE OR MORE LICENSED ATTORNEYS IN GOOD STANDING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR., is a 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Cody T. Mitchell (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-01-30 (Scrivener's error corrected) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4668-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: South Carolina H 4668
- State: South Carolina
- Session: 126th General Assembly (2025-2026)
- Title: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 2-19-115 SO AS TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR MAGISTRATE POSITIONS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER JUDICIAL CANDIDATES UPON VACANCIES, AND TO DEFINE WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-10, RELATING TO CIVIL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 22-8-30, RELATING TO THE FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL OF MAGISTRATES COURTS IN EACH COUNTY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PERSONNEL PROVIDED FOR MAGISTRATES IN EACH COUNTY TO INCLUDE ONE OR MORE LICENSED ATTORNEYS IN GOOD STANDING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-16
- Last action: 2026-01-30, Scrivener's error corrected
- Sponsor: Cody T. Mitchell (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Magistrates

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Cody T. Mitchell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Chumley (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican), House

## Actions (5)

- 2026-01-30: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-13: Introduced and read first time (House)
- 2025-12-16: Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House)
- 2025-12-16: Prefiled (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [HTML](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4668.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/4668.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4668-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).