A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "EQUAL PARENTING ACT"; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 63-3-810, 63-3-820, 63-3-830, 63-3-850, AND 63-3-870, ALL RELATING TO GUARDIANS AD LITEM APPOINTED IN PRIVATE FAMILY COURT ACTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AGAINST GUARDIAN AD LITEM BIAS OR OTHER MISCONDUCT, TO CLARIFY THAT EQUAL PARENTING TIME FOR BOTH PARENTS IS PRESUMED TO BE IN A CHILD'S BEST INTEREST, AND TO ADDRESS THE APPORTIONMENT OF FEES AND COSTS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 63-15-210, 63-15-220, 63-15-230, AND 63-15-240, ALL RELATING TO CHILD CUSTODY HEARINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EQUAL PARENTING TIME IS PRESUMED TO BE IN A CHILD'S BEST INTEREST IN CHILD CUSTODY ACTIONS, THAT PARENTAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE PARENTING TIME OF THE OTHER PARENT IS GROUNDS FOR MODIFICATION OF A CHILD CUSTODY ORDER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS. 865 is a concurrent resolution recognizing and honoring the South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame. It acknowledges the Hall of Fame's mission to preserve, promote, and honor the legacy of South Carolina's military veterans through education and commemoration. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's appreciation for the organization's work in celebrating veterans' service across all branches, ranks, and eras of military history. This non-binding resolution does not create new programs or allocate funds but formally affirms legislative support for the Hall of Fame's mission.
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE JAMES F. BYRNES HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO HONOR THEM FOR WINNING THE SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA DIVISION I GIRLS SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC EXPLOSION OF THE CHALLENGER SPACE SHUTTLE, AND TO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 21, 2026, AS "RONALD MCNAIR DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ON THE OCCASION OF ITS TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, AND THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM, FOR ITS MANY AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND CIVIC LIFE OF OUR CITIZENS AND TO DECLARE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026, "CAROLINA DAY-225 YEARS OF SERVICE" AT THE STATE HOUSE.
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND HONOR THOMAS STOWE "TOM" MULLIKIN, DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; AND THE LEADERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA 7 EXPEDITION FOR THEIR VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP IN 2025, WHICH HAS SET A MODEL FOR CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT BENEFITS THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD.
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE PAMELA J. BROUGHTON OF GREENVILLE COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AND TO HONOR HER FOR HER FORTY-ONE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AT PRISMA HEALTH'S PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY CENTER.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AIKEN SCHOLARS ACADEMY IN AIKEN COUNTY FOR EARNING 2025 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL HONORS AND FOR BEING NAMED IN THE TOP TEN HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE GAIL GINGREY FOR HER FIFTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS A REALTOR IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-40(B), RELATING TO SAFE HAVEN FOR ABANDONED BABIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SAFE HAVEN MUST OFFER THE PERSON LEAVING THE INFANT INFORMATION PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING THE LEGAL EFFECT OF LEAVING THE INFANT WITH THE SAFE HAVEN; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1700(A), RELATING TO PERMANENCY PLANNING, SO AS TO DECREASE THE TIME IN WHICH A PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING MUST BE HELD FROM NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR TO NO LATER THAN NINE MONTHS AFTER THE CHILD IS FIRST PLACED IN FOSTER CARE; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1700(E), RELATING TO THE FILING OF A PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE AND FILE WITH THE COURT A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND REPORT REGARDING THE CHILD WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE FILING OF A PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1700(F) AND SECTION 63-7-1700(H), RELATING TO AN EXTENSION FOR REUNIFICATION, SO AS TO DECREASE THE TIME IN WHICH AN EXTENSION MAY BE GRANTED FOR REUNIFICATION EFFORTS FROM EIGHTEEN MONTHS TO FIFTEEN MONTHS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1700(I), RELATING TO PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARINGS, BY PROVIDING THAT A TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS HEARING MAY SERVE AS THE NEXT PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING ONLY IF IT IS HELD NO LATER THAN NINE MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE PREVIOUS PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING, AND SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING MUST BE HELD QUARTERLY INSTEAD OF ANNUALLY AFTER THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS HEARING; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1710, RELATING TO TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE AND FILE WITH THE COURT A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND REPORT REGARDING THE CHILD WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE FILING OF A PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2550, RELATING TO SERVICE OF PETITION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN UNMARRIED BIOLOGICAL FATHER MUST RECEIVE SERVICE OF A TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ACTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2570, RELATING TO GROUNDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN FINDING THAT TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A CHILD, THE COURT MUST FIND THAT THE HOME OF THE CHILD'S PARENTS IS NOT SAFE FOR THE RETURN OF THE CHILD AT THE TIME OF THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS HEARING; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-9-730, RELATING TO NOTICE OF ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF NOTICE OF AN ADOPTION PROCEEDING CANNOT BE EFFECTED BY PERSONAL SERVICE, THEN NOTICE MAY BE GIVEN BY PUBLICATION OF THE SUMMONS IN WHICH THE REQUESTED RELIEF OF TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, OR ADOPTION, OR BOTH, IS SET FORTH; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-9-760, RELATING TO THE EFFECT OF A FINAL ADOPTION DECREE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FINAL DECREE IS NOT AFFECTED BY A POSTADOPTION AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BEFORE OR AFTER THE ADOPTION; BY ADDING SECTION 63-9-765, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR POSTADOPTION CONTACT AGREEMENTS TO BE ENFORCEABLE IF AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-820, RELATING TO THE PUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A REGISTRANT MUST INCLUDE ANY ALIASES WHEN HE REGISTERS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3595, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A TAX CREDIT FOR ANY RESIDENT TAXPAYER THAT CLAIMS THE FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED ADOPTION EXPENSES RELATED TO A DOMESTIC ADOPTION.