South CarolinaS 0028126th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-15-390 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF OBSCENE VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, DEFINE TERMS, AND ESTABLISH PENALTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-430, RELATING TO THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, SO AS TO ADD THE OFFENSE OF OBSCENE VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TO THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-462, RELATING TO TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Sponsored By: Brad Hutto (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

Summary

AI Child Abuse

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

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Registry adds offense and removal path

People convicted of making or sharing obscene child sexual images must register as Tier I sex offenders. Minors adjudicated in family court for this offense do not have to register. Tier I registrants can apply to end registration after 15 years; Tier II after 25 years. Adult Tier III offenders cannot apply. To qualify, you must finish required sex-offender treatment, have no failure-to-register conviction in the last 10 years, and no new sexual or violent sexual offenses after being listed. The filing fee is set by SLED and cannot be more than $250. SLED can start review 120 days before you qualify, but removal cannot happen early. If relieved, SLED must notify you within 120 days. Effective May 22, 2025.

Schools must teach about this law

The State Department of Education, SLED, and the Attorney General must create and run a policy to teach and notify students about this law. The Department of Education must report on progress to the Governor and legislative leaders by July 1, 2026. Effective May 22, 2025.

Felony ban on obscene child images

The law makes it a felony to make, share, ask for, or have obscene images showing a minor in sexual conduct. Attempts and conspiracies are also crimes. Prison time can be up to 10 years. The minor in the image does not have to be real. If the accused is a minor with no prior qualifying adjudications, the case goes to family court as a misdemeanor. Law enforcement and service providers acting in official roles are exempt. An arrest warrant can issue only after a state grand jury true bill or an ICAC Task Force probable-cause finding with the Attorney General. Effective May 22, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brad Hutto

    Democrat • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Brian Adams

    Republican • Senate

  • Thomas C. Alexander

    Republican • Senate

  • George E. "Chip" Campsen III

    Republican • Senate

  • JD Chaplin

    Republican • Senate

  • Wes Climer

    Republican • Senate

  • Ronnie W. Cromer

    Republican • Senate

  • Tameika Isaac Devine

    Democrat • Senate

  • Jason Elliott

    Republican • Senate

  • Tom Fernandez

    Republican • Senate

  • Billy Garrett

    Republican • Senate

  • Stephen L. Goldfinch

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeffrey R. Graham

    Democrat • Senate

  • Darrell Jackson

    Democrat • Senate

  • Carlisle Kennedy

    Republican • Senate

  • Matthew W. "Matt" Leber

    Republican • Senate

  • Russell L. Ott

    Democrat • Senate

  • Mike Reichenbach

    Republican • Senate

  • Rex F. Rice

    Republican • Senate

  • Ed Sutton

    Democrat • Senate

  • Ross Turner

    Republican • Senate

  • Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III

    Republican • Senate

  • Tom Young, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeff Zell

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 405 • No: 120

House vote • 5/8/2025

(AI Child Abuse)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 0 • No: 107

House vote • 5/8/2025

(AI Child Abuse)Adopt Conference Report

Yes: 105 • No: 1

Senate vote • 5/8/2025

(AI Child Abuse)to adopt the conference report

Yes: 43 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

(AI Child Abuse)to adopt amendment

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 5/1/2025

(AI Child Abuse)Passage of Bill

Yes: 106 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/18/2025

(AI Child Abuse)3rd Reading

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

(AI Child Abuse)to lay on the table  Amendment number 4A

Yes: 27 • No: 12

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

(AI Child Abuse)2nd Reading

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 57

    5/27/2025legislature
  2. Effective date 05/22/25

    5/27/2025legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/22/2025Governor
  4. Ratified R 82

    5/20/2025legislature
  5. Ordered enrolled for ratification

    5/8/2025House
  6. Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0

    5/8/2025Senate
  7. Conference report adopted

    5/8/2025Senate
  8. Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-1

    5/8/2025House
  9. Conference report adopted

    5/8/2025House
  10. Conference committee appointed T Moore, Wetmore, McCabe

    5/8/2025House
  11. Senate insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Hutto, Kimbrell, Adams

    5/8/2025Senate
  12. Roll call Yeas-0 Nays-107

    5/8/2025House
  13. Non-concurrence in Senate amendment

    5/8/2025House
  14. Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0

    5/6/2025Senate
  15. Returned to House with amendments

    5/6/2025Senate
  16. House amendment amended

    5/6/2025Senate
  17. Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments

    5/2/2025House
  18. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/2/2025legislature
  19. Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day

    5/1/2025House
  20. Roll call Yeas-106 Nays-0

    5/1/2025House
  21. Read second time

    5/1/2025House
  22. Amended

    5/1/2025House
  23. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary

    4/30/2025House
  24. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

    2/19/2025House
  25. Introduced and read first time

    2/19/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation