H 4805 South Carolina House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Judicial Seats

Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 14-5-610, RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF THE STATE INTO SIXTEEN JUDICIAL CIRCUITS, THE NUMBER OF JUDGES TO BE ELECTED FROM EACH CIRCUIT, AND THE ELECTION OF AT-LARGE JUDGES WITHOUT REGARD TO COUNTY OR CIRCUIT OF RESIDENCE, SO AS TO CONVERT THREE AT-LARGE CIRCUIT COURT SEATS TO RESIDENT SEATS AND CREATE FOUR NEW JUDGESHIPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES TO BE ELECTED FROM EACH CIRCUIT, SO AS TO CONVERT FOUR AT-LARGE FAMILY COURT SEATS TO RESIDENT SEATS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 9-8-60, RELATING TO RETIREMENT OF JUDGES, SOLICITORS, AND CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE EIGHT YEARS OF EARNED SERVICE RATHER THAN TEN. - 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 15, 2026
Floor votes · Senate May 5, 2026 · House Apr 1, 2026

How they voted

440
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 45
May 5, 2026
D Democratic12
12 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican33
32 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 15, 2026
Signed into law
Signed By Governor
legislature
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and enrolled
upper
May 5, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-0-1)
senate
Apr 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and sent to Senate
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Apr 1, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (101-0-13)
house
Mar 31, 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
7 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors