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South CarolinaS 0029126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-375, RELATING TO THE DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO THE DISSEMINATION OF HARMFUL MATERIAL TO MINORS, SO AS TO DEFINE "IDENTIFIABLE MINOR" AND "MORPHED IMAGE"; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-395, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS, SO AS TO INCLUDE MORPHED IMAGES OF IDENTIFIABLE MINORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-405, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS, SO AS TO INCLUDE MORPHED IMAGES OF IDENTIFIABLE MINORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-410, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF THIRD DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS, SO AS TO INCLUDE MORPHED IMAGES OF IDENTIFIABLE MINORS; BY ADDING SECTION 16-15-412 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR ARREST WARRANTS WHEN THE OFFENSE INCLUDES MORPHED IMAGES OF IDENTIFIABLE MINORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-430, RELATING TO THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, SO AS TO INCLUDE THOSE GUILTY OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS IN THE FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD DEGREE ON THE APPROPRIATE TIERS OF THE 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

MPIC

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Morphed sexual images of minors illegal

The law makes morphed sexual images of identifiable minors a crime. Creating, selling, sharing, buying, or possessing these images can be charged as first-, second-, or third-degree sexual exploitation. Juries may infer a person is a minor from the title or how the material is presented. The law defines an "identifiable minor" and a "morphed image" so prosecutors and courts know what counts.

Registry adds morphed-image crimes; teens exempt

Adults convicted of sexual exploitation tied to morphed images of identifiable minors must register as sex offenders on the appropriate tier. If the person was under 18 and the offense involved a morphed image, the adjudicated minor does not have to register.

First-time juvenile cases go to family court

When a minor’s first offense involves a morphed image of an identifiable minor, the case is a misdemeanor in family court. The court can order behavioral health counseling as part of the outcome.

Stricter warrant rules for morphed-image cases

Police can get an arrest warrant for morphed-image or identifiable-minor exploitation cases only after a state grand jury returns a true bill or after an ICAC Task Force investigation with the Attorney General finds probable cause.

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

  • 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

  • Ross Turner

    Republican • Senate

  • Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III

    Republican • Senate

  • Tom Young, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 337 • No: 105

Senate vote • 5/8/2025

(MPIC)to adopt the conference report

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 5/8/2025

(MPIC)Adopt Conference Report

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote • 5/8/2025

(MPIC)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 0 • No: 105

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

(MPIC)to adopt   Amendment number RFH-1

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 5/1/2025

(MPIC)Passage of Bill

Yes: 109 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

(MPIC)2nd Reading

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 58

    5/27/2025legislature

  2. Effective date 05/22/25

    5/27/2025legislature

  3. Signed By Governor

    5/22/2025Governor

  4. Ratified R 83

    5/20/2025legislature

  5. Ordered enrolled for ratification

    5/8/2025House

  6. Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0

    5/8/2025Senate

  7. Conference report adopted

    5/8/2025Senate

  8. Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-0

    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-105

    5/8/2025House

  13. Non-concurrence in Senate amendment

    5/8/2025House

  14. Returned to House with amendments

    5/6/2025Senate

  15. Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0

    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-109 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. Scrivener's error corrected

    2/25/2025legislature

  25. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

    2/19/2025House

Bill Text

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