All Roll Calls
Yes: 150 • No: 0
South CarolinaS 0958126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-255 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR FIRE AND BUILDING CODE EXCEPTIONS FOR PLACEMENT OF HOSPITAL BEDS IN HALLWAYS, CORRIDORS, OR OTHER MEANS OF EGRESS DURING JUSTIFIED EMERGENCIES.
Sponsored By: Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Hallway Beds
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Hospital hallway beds in emergencies
Beginning May 19, 2026, South Carolina hospitals can place patient beds in hallways, corridors, or exits during a justified emergency. An emergency-department leader must decide other treatment space is exhausted and patient safety is at risk. The hospital must complete a state electronic form within seven days with the start and end time, the type of emergency, those findings, and a signature at the onset. Hospitals must keep these records and send copies to the Department of Public Health at least every quarter. Justified emergencies include declared disasters, large accidents, terrorist or crowd violence, infectious disease outbreaks, and when the ER has no treatment space left.
Hospitals must set emergency protocols
Beginning May 19, 2026, hospitals must write protocols for justified emergencies. These protocols cover when and how hallway beds may be used and the safety steps staff must follow. All employees who care for patients must learn these protocols.
Safety rules for hallway beds
Beginning May 19, 2026, when hallway or exit areas are used for patient beds in a justified emergency, hospitals must keep a clear path and cannot block exits. They cannot put up partitions or other structures that block sprinklers, fire alarms, or detection systems. When a hallway bed is not being used to treat a patient during the emergency, the hospital must remove it from the hallway or exit area.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Thomas C. Alexander
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/13/2026
(Hallway Beds)Passage of Bill
Yes: 113 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/26/2026
(Hallway Beds)2nd Reading
Yes: 37 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective date 05/19/26
6/5/2026legislatureAct No. 230
6/3/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
5/19/2026GovernorRatified R 241
5/15/2026legislatureConcurred in House amendment and enrolled
5/14/2026SenateRead third time and returned to Senate with amendments
5/14/2026HouseRoll call Yeas-113 Nays-0
5/13/2026HouseRead second time
5/13/2026HouseAmended
5/13/2026HouseDebate adjourned
5/12/2026HouseDebate adjourned
5/7/2026HouseRecalled from Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
5/5/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
4/1/2026HouseIntroduced and read first time
4/1/2026HouseRead third time and sent to House
3/31/2026SenateRoll call Ayes-37 Nays-0
3/26/2026SenateRead second time
3/26/2026SenateCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs
3/24/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Medical Affairs
2/25/2026SenateIntroduced and read first time
2/25/2026Senate
Bill Text
Introduced
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