Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, penalties
Summary
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
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed May 18, 2026
Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026 · House Mar 31, 2026
How they voted
41–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 42
May 6, 2026
D
Democratic12
100% Yea
R
Republican30
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
31
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
4
May 18, 2026
Signed into law
Signed By Governor
legislature
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
upper
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Returned to Senate with amendments
lower
May 13, 2026
Amended
Senate amendment amended
lower
May 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
upper
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
May 6, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (41-0-1)
senate
Apr 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recalled from Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and sent to Senate
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Mar 31, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (100-0-14)
house
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Dec 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
35 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Alan Morgan
RRepublican
P
April Cromer
RRepublican
P
Bill Chumley
RRepublican
P
Brandon Guffey
RRepublican
P
Brandon Newton
RRepublican
P
Cal Forrest
RRepublican
P
Charlie Hartz
RRepublican
P
Cody Mitchell
RRepublican
P
Daniel Gibson
RRepublican
P
David Vaughan
RRepublican
P
Don Chapman
RRepublican
P
Fawn Pedalino
RRepublican
P
Jackie Terribile
RRepublican
P
Jay Kilmartin
RRepublican
P
Jerry Govan
DDemocratic
P
Joe White
RRepublican
P
John Lastinger
RRepublican
P
John McCravy
RRepublican
P
Jordan Pace
RRepublican
P
Josiah Magnuson
RRepublican
P
Lee Gilreath
RRepublican
P
Mark Willis
RRepublican
P
Melissa Oremus
RRepublican
P
Mike Burns
RRepublican
P
Patrick Haddon
RRepublican
P
Paul Wickensimer
RRepublican
P
Phillip Bowers
RRepublican
P
Randy Ligon
RRepublican
P
Richie Yow
RRepublican
P
Sarita Edgerton
RRepublican
P
Stephen Frank
RRepublican
P
Thomas Beach
RRepublican
P
Tommy Pope
RRepublican
P
Travis Moore
RRepublican
P
Weston Newton
RRepublican
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