All Roll Calls
Yes: 154 • No: 0
South CarolinaS 0415126th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERM "LICENSED"; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-9-1110, RELATING TO ADOPTION BY A STEPPARENT OR RELATIVE, SO AS TO APPLY TO CHILDREN PLACED WITH RELATIVES OR FICTIVE KIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2320, RELATING TO THE KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, SO AS TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE OF A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT FROM TWENTY-ONE TO EIGHTEEN AND TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO USE DIFFERENT STANDARDS WHEN LICENSING RELATIVES AND FICTIVE KIN; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2350, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PLACEMENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2400, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO MAY BE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME, SO AS TO REMOVE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT LIMITATIONS FROM KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS.
Sponsored By: Tom Young, Jr. (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Child Welfare Caregivers
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster kinship foster licensing and support
Beginning Feb 27, 2026, younger kin can be licensed foster parents at age 18. The department can use different licensing rules for relatives and fictive kin and may waive non-safety items case by case. Any waived item is noted on the license. Safety checks like state and federal fingerprint background checks stay required. If a relative or fictive kin starts the license process, they get the same legal status, payments, and services as licensed kinship caregivers. The department may place a child with unlicensed kin when that placement is in the child’s best interest.
No cap on therapeutic kin placements
Beginning Feb 27, 2026, kinship foster homes are exempt from limits on therapeutic foster care placements. These homes can take more therapeutic placements as needed. Families may receive more services and payments tied to therapeutic care.
Kin placement possible after older convictions
Beginning Feb 27, 2026, the department may place a child with kin or fictive kin who have an older conviction. More than five years must have passed. The offense cannot be violent or any crime against a child, including domestic violence or child abuse or neglect. The department must decide the placement is in the child’s best interest.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Tom Young, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Tameika Isaac Devine
Democrat • Senate
Jason Elliott
Republican • Senate
Russell L. Ott
Democrat • Senate
Mike Reichenbach
Republican • Senate
Ed Sutton
Democrat • Senate
Jeff Zell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/5/2026
(Child Welfare Caregivers)Passage of Bill
Yes: 109 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/1/2025
(Child Welfare Caregivers)2nd Reading
Yes: 45 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 99
3/5/2026legislatureEffective date 02/27/26
3/5/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
2/27/2026GovernorRatified R 103
2/25/2026legislatureConcurred in House amendment and enrolled
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-109 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
4/1/2025SenateScrivener's error corrected
3/28/2025legislatureCommittee report: Favorable Family and Veterans' Services
3/26/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
3/4/2025SenateIntroduced and read first time
3/4/2025Senate
Bill Text
Introduced
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