H 3430 South Carolina House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tort Reform and Liquor Liability

Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 15-38-15, RELATING TO JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY AND THE APPORTIONMENT OF PERCENTAGES OF FAULT AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OR DRUG EXCEPTIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SO AS TO FURTHER MODIFY PROVISIONS RELATING TO JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY, TO REMOVE THE EXCEPTION TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION APPLYING TO THE USE, SALE, OR POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL TORTFEASORS IN A CAUSE OF ACTION AND FOR THE TRIER OF FACT TO ALLOCATE FAULT TO ADDITIONAL TORTFEASORS, AND TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH ADDITIONAL NONDEFENDANT TORTFEASORS SHALL BE ADDED TO A VERDICT FORM AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY SHALL NOT BE ADDED; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-6-2220, RELATING TO ALCOHOL SALES, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM KNOWINGLY SELLING ALCOHOL TO AN INTOXICATED PERSON; BY ADDING CHAPTER 3 TO TITLE 61 SO AS TO ESTABLISH AN ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING REQUIREMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-2-60, RELATING TO REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE REGULATIONS FOR THE ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-4-580, RELATING TO PROHIBITED ACTS BY HOLDERS OF PERMITS AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF BEER OR WINE, SO AS TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 61-4-523 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE AT COLLEGIATE SPORTING EVENTS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION 38-73-550 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO MAKE CERTAIN REPORTS REGARDING LIQUOR LIABILITY COVERAGE IN THIS STATE; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-90-20, RELATING TO LICENSING, REQUIRED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION, FEES, AND RENEWAL, SO AS TO INCLUDE LIQUOR LIABILITY INSURANCE; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-2-145, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR LIQUOR LIABILITY RISK MITIGATION; AND BY ADDING SECTION 61-2-147 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TORTFEASORS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OFFENSES SHALL APPEAR ON THE JURY VERDICT FORM UPON MOTION OF THE DEFENDANT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE IF A VERDICT IS RENDERED AGAINST BOTH A LICENSEE AND A DEFENDANT CHARGED WITH CERTAIN DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OFFENSES THAT THE LICENSEE IS JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE PLAINTIFF'S ACTUAL DAMAGES. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 12, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2025 · House Feb 19, 2025

How they voted

450
Passed
Total votes 45
Apr 1, 2025
D Democratic12
12 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican33
33 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
4
May 12, 2025
Signed into law
Signed By Governor
legislature
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
upper
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Returned to Senate with amendments
lower
May 6, 2025
Amended
Senate amendment amended
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment Adopted
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (45-0)
senate
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Finance
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and sent to Senate
lower
Feb 19, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (101-0-17)
house
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Dec 5, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
49 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors