Criminal Justice

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 23 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS AND INTERROGATIONS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-23-170, RELATING TO ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, FOUNDATION, NOTICE, AND EXPERT AND LAY TESTIMONY, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO FURTHER DEFINE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME AND ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THERE IS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PRIOR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT AND A THREAT OF A VIOLENT ASSAULT OR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT BY THE VICTIM OCCURS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-25-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO A "DATING RELATIONSHIP" AND "COERCIVE CONTROL", SO AS TO INCLUDE PERSONS WHO ARE PRESENTLY IN OR HAVE FORMERLY BEEN IN A DATING RELATIONSHIP IN THE DEFINITION OF "HOUSEHOLD MEMBER" AND TO ADD THE DEFINITIONS OF DATING RELATIONSHIP AND COERCIVE CONTROL; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-25-20, RELATING TO PROHIBITED ACTS, SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO ENGAGE IN COERCIVE CONTROL OVER A PERSON'S OWN HOUSEHOLD; BY AMENDING SECTION 20-3-10, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE, SO AS TO INCLUDE CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST A SPOUSE, STALKING, AND HARASSMENT AS GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE; BY AMENDING SECTION 20-4-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO ABUSE, SO AS TO INCLUDE HARASSMENT, STALKING, AND COERCIVE CONTROL INTO THE DEFINITIONS OF "ABUSE" AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER INCLUDES PERSONS WHO ARE PRESENTLY IN OR HAVE FORMERLY BEEN IN A DATING RELATIONSHIP; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-15-240, RELATING TO THE CONTENTS OF ORDER FOR CUSTODY AFFECTING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE STATUTORY REFERENCE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ADD STALKING AND HARASSMENT AS ACTIVITY FOR A COURT TO CONSIDER WHEN DETERMINING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A CHILD.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 20-4-20, RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTION DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR "VICTIM ADVOCATE"; BY AMENDING SECTION 20-4-40, RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, SO AS TO ALLOW A VICTIM ADVOCATE TO FILE A PETITION FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION OR A MOTION FOR FURTHER RELIEF ON BEHALF OF A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 20-4-50, RELATING TO HEARINGS ON A PETITION FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

H 4779, the Anti-Doxxing Act, makes it a crime to intentionally publish personal information (like home addresses or children's schools) of public servants - such as police officers, firefighters, or government employees - with the intent to harass, harm, or disrupt their work. If proven, first offenses are misdemeanors (up to 3 years in prison), while repeat offenses become felonies (up to 20 years). The law specifically protects First Amendment political speech and the publication of public officials' contact information for legitimate lobbying purposes. It directly affects individuals who target public servants with doxxing, not general citizens or non-public figures.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 17-13-55 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED TO PERSONS DETAINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING EQUIPMENT MUST BE ACTIVATED UPON DETAINMENT OF A PERSON.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-1-65, RELATING TO THE EXPUNGEMENT OF CONVICTIONS FOR THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HANDGUNS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE MUST DISMISS AND EXPUNGE CERTAIN PENDING UNLAWFUL HANDGUN POSSESSION CHARGES THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY/SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT OF 2024, AND TO PROVIDE THE DISMISSAL OF THESE CHARGES MAY NOT SERVE AS A BASIS OR SUPPORT FOR CIVIL ACTIONS DUE TO THE ARREST. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 23-1-235 SO AS TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SHALL NOT PURCHASE CELL-SITE SIMULATOR TECHNOLOGY FROM COMPANIES THAT REQUIRE THE PURCHASERS OF THIS EQUIPMENT TO ENTER INTO NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "CELL-SITE SIMULATOR TECHNOLOGY."

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 1-7-409 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A COUNTY FROM REDUCING ITS FUNDING FOR CIRCUIT SOLICITOR OPERATIONS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 23-3-560 SO AS TO PROVIDE PERSONS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS MAY PETITION THE COURT TO TERMINATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF INITIAL REGISTRATION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-460, RELATING TO BIANNUAL REGISTRATION FOR LIFE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM PERIOD OF REGISTRATION IS FIFTEEN YEARS.