All Roll Calls
Yes: 340 • No: 23
South CarolinaH 4813126th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 8-21-1010 AND 8-21-1060, BOTH RELATING TO FEES AND COSTS TO BE COLLECTED BY MAGISTRATES, BOTH SO AS TO INCREASE VARIOUS FEES AND COSTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-340, RELATING TO ASSESSMENTS ON FILINGS IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE ASSESSMENT ON SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT FILINGS AND ALL OTHER CIVIL FILINGS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 22-2-5, RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY EXAMINATIONS FOR MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME ELIGIBILITY EXAMINATIONS ARE VALID.
Sponsored By: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Magistrate court fees and costs
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Longer validity for magistrate exams
Beginning January 1, 2027, a passing magistrate eligibility exam score stays valid longer. It counts for 18 months before and 18 months after the time an appointment is to be made. You still must have a passing score to be appointed. Senatorial delegations use exam results when recommending nominees.
Higher magistrate court fees and assessments
Beginning January 1, 2027, magistrates court fees and filing assessments go up. You pay $40 when you file a summons and complaint, and $15 for other civil filings; restraining orders are exempt. Court fees also rise, like $65 to issue a summons and give judgment, $40 for landlord or eviction actions, and $20 to serve a summons or issue an execution. Magistrates collect these amounts and send assessments monthly to the county treasurer, then to the State Treasurer for the courts. No one pays a fee for summoning jurors or jury service in a criminal jury trial. New fee money must add to, not replace, county funds for court facilities, staff, and security.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Cody T. Mitchell
Republican • House
Melissa Lackey Oremus
Republican • House
Robby Robbins
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Magistrate court fees and costs)Concur in Senate Amendments
Yes: 100 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
(Magistrate court fees and costs)2nd Reading
Yes: 42 • No: 3
House vote • 2/18/2026
(Magistrate court fees and costs)Passage of Bill
Yes: 99 • No: 10
House vote • 2/18/2026
(Magistrate court fees and costs)Passage of Bill
Yes: 99 • No: 10 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Act No. 155
5/26/2026legislatureEffective date 01/01/27
5/26/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
5/15/2026GovernorRatified R 206
5/14/2026legislatureRoll call Yeas-100 Nays-0
5/7/2026HouseConcurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
5/7/2026HouseRead third time and returned to House with amendments
5/6/2026SenateRoll call Ayes-42 Nays-3
5/5/2026SenateRead second time
5/5/2026SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted
5/5/2026SenateCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
4/29/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Judiciary
2/19/2026SenateIntroduced and read first time
2/19/2026SenateRead third time and sent to Senate
2/19/2026HouseScrivener's error corrected
2/19/2026legislatureRoll call Yeas-99 Nays-10
2/18/2026HouseRead second time
2/18/2026HouseAmended
2/18/2026HouseDebate adjourned
2/17/2026HouseDebate adjourned until Tues., 2-17-26
2/12/2026HouseDebate adjourned
2/11/2026HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Oremus
2/10/2026HouseCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary
2/5/2026HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Robbins
2/4/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Judiciary
1/13/2026House
Bill Text
Introduced
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