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South CarolinaS 0894126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-63-74, RELATING TO THE ELECTRONIC FILING AND TRANSMISSION OF DEATH CERTIFICATES, SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES REGARDING TIMELY ELECTRONIC FILING WITH THE BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS.

Sponsored By: Thomas C. Alexander (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Death Certificate Filing Deadline Exception

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.

Doctors face 48-hour death certificate deadline

Beginning May 15, 2026, doctors must complete and return the cause‑of‑death certification within 48 hours after getting notice of the death. If the 48 hours end on a weekend or holiday, file by the next business day. If the cause is not known in 48 hours, mark it pending and send a supplemental report as soon as possible. If the coroner or medical examiner must investigate, this timing rule does not apply. An associate doctor, the chief medical officer, or the autopsy pathologist may complete the certificate if the attending doctor is absent or approves.

Fines for late or non‑electronic death records

Beginning May 15, 2026, the department can fine violations: $250 for a first violation or a warning letter, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or later. Each day after a missed deadline can count as another violation. Doctors can be fined for failing to certify within 48 hours without good cause. Funeral homes or directors can be fined for failing to file, collect data, get medical certification, or file electronically. No fine applies when a delay is from a good‑faith inability to collect personal data. The department tells the relevant professional board and sends all collected fines to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Stricter electronic death filing for funeral homes

Beginning May 15, 2026, funeral homes must file death certificates electronically. File within five days after a Burial-Removal-Transit Permit is issued, or after you take custody, whichever is later. If the deadline lands on a weekend or holiday, file by the next business day. You must collect the decedent’s personal data from next of kin or the best source and get the medical certification. All transmissions and signatures must be electronic. A family member or friend acting as a funeral director without pay is exempt from e-filing, but still must collect data and get medical certification. If you cannot get personal data after a good-faith effort, tell the Bureau of Vital Statistics right away and say why.

Deaths reported to update voter rolls

Beginning May 15, 2026, the Bureau of Vital Statistics tells the State Election Commission when it receives notice of a death. The State Election Commission then tells the county voter registration office where the person lived. The county can remove the deceased person from the voter rolls.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas C. Alexander

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 151 • No: 0

House vote • 5/12/2026

(Death Certificate Filing Deadline Exception)Passage of Bill

Yes: 114 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

(Death Certificate Filing Deadline Exception)2nd Reading

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 128

    5/26/2026legislature

  2. Effective date 05/15/26

    5/26/2026legislature

  3. Signed By Governor

    5/15/2026Governor

  4. Ratified R 161

    5/14/2026legislature

  5. Concurred in House amendment and enrolled

    5/13/2026Senate

  6. Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments

    5/13/2026House

  7. Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0

    5/12/2026House

  8. Read second time

    5/12/2026House

  9. Amended

    5/12/2026House

  10. Debate adjourned

    5/7/2026House

  11. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

    5/5/2026House

  12. Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

    4/1/2026House

  13. Introduced and read first time

    4/1/2026House

  14. Read third time and sent to House

    3/31/2026Senate

  15. Roll call Ayes-37 Nays-0

    3/26/2026Senate

  16. Read second time

    3/26/2026Senate

  17. Amended

    3/26/2026Senate

  18. Committee Amendment Adopted

    3/26/2026Senate

  19. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs

    3/24/2026Senate

  20. Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs

    2/4/2026Senate

  21. Introduced and read first time

    2/4/2026Senate

Bill Text

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