All Roll Calls
Yes: 155 • No: 0
South CarolinaS 0405126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-85, RELATING TO HOMICIDE BY CHILD ABUSE, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AGE OF A CHILD UNDER THIS SECTION FROM UNDER THE AGE OF ELEVEN TO UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN.
Sponsored By: Thomas C. Alexander (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Homicide by Child Abuse
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Child abuse death law covers under 18
Beginning March 9, 2026, South Carolina treats a child as under 18 for the crime of homicide by child abuse. A person is guilty if they cause the death of a child under 18 while abusing or neglecting the child, under circumstances showing extreme indifference to human life. A person is also guilty if they knowingly help someone else abuse or neglect a child and that abuse causes the child’s death. Abuse or neglect includes inflicting physical injury (including excessive corporal punishment), failing to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care that causes a fatal condition, or abandoning the child leading to death. The penalty for causing the death during abuse or neglect can be life in prison, and not less than 20 years. The penalty for aiding or abetting is 10 to 20 years in prison. Judges must weigh aggravating facts, including a past pattern of child abuse or neglect, and a child’s crying does not reduce the sentence.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Thomas C. Alexander
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Shane R. Martin
Republican • Senate
Tom Young, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/5/2026
(Homicide by Child Abuse)Passage of Bill
Yes: 110 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/1/2025
(Homicide by Child Abuse)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 101
3/12/2026legislatureEffective date 03/09/26
3/12/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
3/9/2026GovernorRatified R 106
3/5/2026legislatureOrdered enrolled for ratification
3/5/2026HouseHouse recedes from amendment
3/5/2026HouseNon-concurrence in House amendment
2/11/2026SenateRead third time and returned to Senate with amendments
2/6/2026HouseUnanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
2/5/2026HouseRoll call Yeas-110 Nays-0
2/5/2026HouseRead second time
2/5/2026HouseAmended
2/5/2026HouseCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
2/3/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Judiciary
4/3/2025HouseIntroduced and read first time
4/3/2025HouseRead third time and sent to House
4/2/2025SenateRoll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
4/1/2025SenateRead second time
4/1/2025SenateCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary
3/26/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Judiciary
3/4/2025SenateIntroduced and read first time
3/4/2025Senate
Bill Text
Introduced
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