South Carolina bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
South Carolina H 4804
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, penalties
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- T. Moore (Republican)
- Pope (Republican)
- White (Republican)
- Cromer (Republican)
- Edgerton (Republican)
- Burns (Republican)
- Beach (Republican)
- Morgan (Republican)
- Terribile (Republican)
- Pace (Republican)
- Kilmartin (Republican)
- Gilreath (Republican)
- Magnuson (Republican)
- Frank (Republican)
- McCravy (Republican)
- Hartz (Republican)
- D. Mitchell
- Haddon (Republican)
- Willis (Republican)
- Vaughan (Republican)
- Pedalino (Republican)
- Chumley (Republican)
- Govan (Democratic)
- Wickensimer (Republican)
- Lastinger
- C. Mitchell (Republican)
- Yow (Republican)
- Guffey (Republican)
- Bowers (Republican)
- Ligon (Republican)
- Chapman (Republican)
- B. Newton (Republican)
- W. Newton (Republican)
- Forrest (Republican)
- Oremus (Republican)
- Gibson (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the South Carolina legislature· description
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-395, RELATING TO FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY FOR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS WHO VIOLATE THE STATUTE; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-405, RELATING TO SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY FOR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS WHO VIOLATE THE STATUTE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-410, RELATING TO THIRD DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, SO AS TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF IMAGES POSSESSED, INCLUDING A PENALTY OF UP TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE ONE TO TWENTY-FIVE IMAGES, ONE TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE TWENTY-SIX TO TWO HUNDRED FIFTY IMAGES, AND A PENALTY OF TWO TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY IMAGES; AND TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM PENALTY OF FIVE YEARS FOR A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER WHO VIOLATES THE STATUTE - RATIFIED TITLE
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2026 House | Adopt Amendment 1A | pass | Set your home in South Carolina to see |
| May 6, 2026 Senate | 2nd Reading | pass | Set your home in South Carolina to see |
| Mar 31, 2026 House | Passage of Bill | pass | Set your home in South Carolina to see |
Actions
- Jun 2, 2026 · Legislature
Act No. 189 - Jun 2, 2026 · Legislature
Effective date 05/18/26 - May 18, 2026 · Legislature
Signed By Governor - May 14, 2026 · Legislature
Ratified R 204 - May 13, 2026 · Senate
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled - May 13, 2026 · House
Roll call Yeas-111 Nays-0 - May 13, 2026 · House
Returned to Senate with amendments - May 13, 2026 · House
Senate amendment amended - May 7, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and returned to House with amendments - May 6, 2026 · Senate
Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0 - May 6, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - May 6, 2026 · Senate
Amended - Apr 29, 2026 · Senate
Recalled from Committee on Judiciary - Apr 1, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on Judiciary - Apr 1, 2026 · Senate
Introduced and read first time - Apr 1, 2026 · House
Read third time and sent to Senate - Mar 31, 2026 · House
Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0 - Mar 31, 2026 · House
Read second time - Mar 31, 2026 · House
Amended - Mar 31, 2026 · House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers, Ligon, Chapman, B.Newton, W.Newton, Forrest, Oremus, Gibson - Mar 26, 2026 · House
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary - Mar 25, 2026 · House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger, C.Mitchell, Yow, Guffey - Feb 5, 2026 · House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Govan - Jan 28, 2026 · House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cromer, Edgerton, Burns, Beach, Morgan, Terribile, Pace, Kilmartin, Gilreath, Magnuson, Frank, McCravy, Hartz, D.Mitchell, Haddon, Willis, Wickensimer, Vaughan, Pedalino, Chumley - Jan 20, 2026 · House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Judiciary - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Introduced and read first time - Dec 16, 2025 · House
Referred to Committee on Judiciary - Dec 16, 2025 · House
Prefiled