A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 38-55-171 SO AS TO CREATE THE FELONY CRIMINAL OFFENSES OF STAGING A MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION AND AGGRAVATED STAGING A MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-520, RELATING TO THE PURPOSE OF THE OMNIBUS INSURANCE FRAUD AND REPORTING IMMUNITY ACT, SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE DIVISION PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED TO PROSECUTE AND INVESTIGATE FRAUD IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS BEING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-530, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE OMNIBUS INSURANCE FRAUD AND REPORTING IMMUNITY ACT, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-540, RELATING TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES IN THE OMNIBUS INSURANCE FRAUD AND REPORTING IMMUNITY ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE ATTEMPTS TO RECEIVE CERTAIN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES OR BENEFITS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-550, RELATING TO CIVIL PENALTIES IN THE OMNIBUS INSURANCE FRAUD AND REPORTING IMMUNITY ACT, SO AS TO ADD A STATUTE FOR WHICH VIOLATIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE CIVIL PENALTIES, AND TO MAKE VARIOUS TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-560, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION AND PROVIDE THE POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISION AND RELATED STATE AGENCIES, SO AS TO TRANSFER THE DIVISION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, AND TO REVISE THE POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISION AND RELATED AGENCIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-570, RELATING TO NOTIFICATION TO THE DIVISION OF CERTAIN FRAUDULENT CONDUCT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER OF THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, AND TO REMOVE AN EXCEPTION TO A DISCOVERY PROVISION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-590, RELATING TO THE ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER OF THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE; BY AMENDING SECTION 17-25-45, RELATING TO LIFE SENTENCES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES, SO AS TO ADD AND REVISE CERTAIN INSURANCE-RELATED CRIMES; BY AMENDING SECTION 42-9-440, RELATING TO SUSPECTED FALSE STATEMENTS OR MISREPRESENTATIONS TO BE REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER OF THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 14-7-1630, RELATING TO SUBJECT MATTERS OF THE STATE GRAND JURY, SO AS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN CRIMES INVOLVING INSURANCE FRAUD.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 13 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 34 SO AS TO PROVIDE VENDING OF DIGITAL ASSET DEFINITIONS AND TO PROVIDE THAT OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS MUST HAVE MONEY TRANSMITTER LICENSES AND MUST PROVIDE CERTAIN DISCLOSURES ON THE SCREENS OF THE VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 47-1-40, RELATING TO THE ILL-TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, SO AS TO RESTRUCTURE THE STATUTE AND PROVIDE INCREASED, GRADUATED PENALTIES FOR VARIOUS LEVELS OF ILL-TREATMENT OF ANIMALS OFFENSES.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-250, RELATING TO THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ALLOWED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS, DISABLED, OR LEGALLY BLIND, SO AS TO INCREASE THE EXEMPTION AMOUNT FROM THE FIRST FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 12-37-245 RELATING TO AN OBSOLETE REFERENCE TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-1-320 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO CREATE A DIVISION OF MEN'S HEALTH TO RAISE AWARENESS OF HEALTH ISSUES SPECIFIC TO MEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-250, RELATING TO THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ALLOWED FOR PERSONS WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS, DISABLED, OR LEGALLY BLIND, SO AS TO INCREASE THE EXEMPTION AMOUNT FROM THE FIRST FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 12-37-245 RELATING TO AN OBSOLETE REFERENCE TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
H 4710 amends South Carolina's animal cruelty law (Section 47-1-40) by adding 17 specific exemptions to the general prohibition. The bill clarifies that activities like standard farm animal husbandry, veterinary care, agricultural practices (including dehorning cattle), wildlife management, scientific research, dog training for hunting, and pest control by licensed professionals will not be considered animal cruelty under this law. It directly affects farmers, veterinarians, researchers, wildlife managers, and others engaged in the listed activities. The bill does not change the core prohibition against animal cruelty but defines clear exceptions for common agricultural, scientific, and recreational practices. The bill is pending in the House Agriculture Committee as of January 2026.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-1-325 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO CREATE A DIVISION OF WOMEN'S HEALTH TO RAISE AWARENESS OF HEALTH ISSUES SPECIFIC TO WOMEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-710, RELATING TO PROBABLE CAUSE HEARINGS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO BEGIN FACILITATING VISITATION BETWEEN THE PARENT AND THE CHILD FOLLOWING THE PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING IF THE CHILD IS PLACED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME AT THE PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING, WITH EXCEPTIONS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1680, RELATING TO PLACEMENT PLANS, SO AS TO ADDRESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SUPERVISED OR MONITORED VISITATION AFTER A CERTAIN TIME.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ADOPT THE MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT TO ALLOW ALL MEDICALLY RETIRED SERVICE MEMBERS TO RECEIVE FULL ACCESS TO THEIR RETIREMENT PAY AND BENEFITS.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-59-255 SO AS TO REQUIRE RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS AND RESIDENTIAL SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS TO HOLD CLIENT FUNDS IN ESCROW OR TRUST ACCOUNTS, TO ESTABLISH RELATED RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS, TO PROHIBIT COMMINGLING, TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 38-77-720, RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY CLAIMS ARBITRATION FEES AND ARBITRATOR COMPENSATION, SO AS TO INCREASE FEES AND COMPENSATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-77-730, RELATING TO ARBITRATION CLAIM FILINGS, SO AS TO REVISE FILING REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-77-740, RELATING TO ARBITRATION CLAIM HEARINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE ARBITRATORS MAY AWARD REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS TO THE PREVAILING PARTY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 38-77-770, RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO A DE NOVO APPEAL OF ARBITRATOR DECISIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE ARBITRATOR DECISIONS ARE ADMISSIBLE AS SUBSTANTIVE EVIDENCE OF LIABILITY, DAMAGES, OR BOTH.
