All Roll Calls
Yes: 263 • No: 25
South CarolinaH 5538126th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "GUARANTEE BANKING ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 47 TO TITLE 34 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IN BANKING.
Sponsored By: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Guarantee Banking Act
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
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Ban on discriminatory de-banking and collusion
Beginning Dec 30, 2026, large banks and payment firms may not refuse, cut off, or limit services because of your religion, speech, opinions, or associations. Their decisions must use impartial, risk‑based standards, not ideological or other non‑risk reasons. They also cannot coordinate with others to carry out a discriminatory cutoff. Temporary holds for fraud checks or identity checks are allowed. Courts and agencies must read this law to strongly protect First Amendment rights.
Which banks and services are covered
Beginning Dec 30, 2026, this law covers checking, savings, and NOW accounts; money transfers like ACH and card networks; and credit like loans, mortgages, and credit cards. It applies to banks with over $100 billion in assets and big payment firms that handled over $100 billion last year, including their parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries. Insurance and securities investing are not covered. State and local governments cannot extend these same rules to smaller institutions unless a federal or state law requires it.
Get clear reasons for service denials
Beginning Dec 30, 2026, if a covered bank or payment firm denies or limits your service, you can ask for specific reasons. Ask within 90 days by phone, mail, or email. The firm must send a written answer within 30 days, unless federal law blocks it. Generic answers are not allowed. A federal credit or consumer report notice can meet this rule if it covers these points.
State can enforce these protections
Beginning Dec 30, 2026, violations of this chapter count as unfair or deceptive acts. The South Carolina Attorney General can use all remedies allowed by law to enforce it.
When banks can still say no
Beginning Dec 30, 2026, some refusals are allowed if done in good faith and without bias. Examples include changes you agreed to, steps for inactivity or delinquency, refusals required by law, not offering a service, or impartial business decisions for profitability, compliance, or safety and soundness. These decisions must be impartial and not driven by pressure to gain a benefit or avoid harm from someone else.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Thomas Beach
Republican • House
James Mikell "Mike" Burns
Republican • House
William M. "Bill" Chumley
Republican • House
April Cromer
Republican • House
Dianne Mitchell
Republican • House
G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Republican • House
Daniel Gibson
Republican • House
Thomas Lee Gilreath
Republican • House
Jerry N. Govan, Jr.
Democrat • House
Charles V. Hartz
Republican • House
William G. "Bill" Herbkersman
Republican • House
David R. Hiott
Republican • House
William C. "Chris" Huff
Republican • House
Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr.
Republican • House
John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin
Republican • House
John T. Lastinger, Jr.
Republican • House
Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon
Republican • House
Donald Ryan McCabe, Jr.
Republican • House
T. Alan Morgan, Jr.
Republican • House
Mike M. Neese
Republican • House
Melissa Lackey Oremus
Republican • House
Fawn M. Pedalino
Republican • House
Bill Taylor
Republican • House
David Vaughan
Republican • House
Wm. Weston J. Newton
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/25/2026
(Guarantee Banking Act)Concur in Senate Amendments
Yes: 99 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/13/2026
(Guarantee Banking Act)2nd Reading
Yes: 38 • No: 2
Senate vote • 5/13/2026
(Guarantee Banking Act)to lay on the table
Yes: 17 • No: 23
House vote • 4/23/2026
(Guarantee Banking Act)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 257
7/1/2026legislatureEffective date 12/30/26
7/1/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
6/30/2026GovernorRatified R 274
6/29/2026legislatureRoll call Yeas-99 Nays-0
6/25/2026HouseConcurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
6/25/2026HouseDebate adjourned
5/18/2026HouseDebate adjourned
5/15/2026HouseRead third time and returned to House with amendments
5/14/2026SenateScrivener's error corrected
5/14/2026legislatureScrivener's error corrected
5/14/2026legislatureRoll call Ayes-38 Nays-2
5/13/2026SenateRead second time
5/13/2026SenateAmended
5/13/2026SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted
5/13/2026SenateSpecial order, set for May12, 2026
5/12/2026SenateCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Banking and Insurance
5/6/2026SenateRead third time and sent to Senate
4/24/2026HouseScrivener's error corrected
4/23/2026legislatureUnanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
4/23/2026HouseRoll call Yeas-109 Nays-0
4/23/2026HouseRead second time
4/23/2026HouseAmended
4/23/2026HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Gibson, Govan
4/23/2026HouseMember(s) request name added as sponsor: Morgan, Lastinger, Huff, Burns, Chumley, Kilmartin, Beach, D.Mitchell, McCabe, Pedalino, Vaughan
4/22/2026House
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 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