All Roll Calls
Yes: 263 • No: 0
Sponsored By: Wm. Weston J. Newton (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Judicial Seats
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4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
The law lowers the earned service needed to retire from 10 years to 8 years. It applies to judges, solicitors, and circuit public defenders. Other age and credited service rules still apply under state law.
The law creates four new Circuit Court judgeships. One new judge in the Fifth Circuit must live in Kershaw County. One new judge in the Tenth Circuit must live in Oconee County. The Sixth and Fifteenth Circuits each get one new judge. Nominations start for the Fifth and Tenth in 2027, and for the Sixth and Fifteenth in 2028. Nominations and elections begin only after the state budget funds these seats.
Beginning May 15, 2026, three at‑large Circuit Court seats become resident seats. At‑Large Seat 7 becomes First Circuit Seat 3; At‑Large Seat 1 becomes Third Circuit Seat 4; At‑Large Seat 4 becomes Eighth Circuit Seat 3. The sitting judge keeps serving without new screening until the current term ends.
Beginning May 15, 2026, four at‑large Family Court seats become resident seats. Seat 8 becomes Fifth Circuit Seat 5; Seat 4 becomes Fifth Circuit Seat 6; Seat 6 becomes Tenth Circuit Seat 4; Seat 3 becomes Twelfth Circuit Seat 4. The sitting judge keeps serving without new screening until the current term ends.
Wm. Weston J. Newton
Republican • House
Brandon Newton
Republican • House
Cody T. Mitchell
Republican • House
Christopher R. "Chris" Hart
Democrat • House
Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Republican • House
Robby Robbins
Republican • House
Joseph S. "Joe" White
Republican • House
All Roll Calls
Yes: 263 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
(Judicial Seats)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
House vote • 4/1/2026
(Judicial Seats)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
House vote • 4/1/2026
(Judicial Seats)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
Act No. 154
Effective date 05/15/26
Signed By Governor
Ratified R 205
Read third time and enrolled
Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
Read second time
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced and read first time
Read third time and sent to Senate
Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0
Read second time
Amended
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hart
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Robbins
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced and read first time
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Prefiled
Introduced
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