S 235 South Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Prostitution

Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-90, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," REVISE THE STATUTE AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-100, RELATING TO FURTHER ACTS OF PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, REVISE THE STATUTE REGARDING PROMOTING PROSTITUTION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION TO PERSONS COERCED AS RESULT OF BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-110, RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION OFFENSES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-15-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF A PROSTITUTION OFFENSE MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF THE ARREST RECORD. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed May 18, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2025 · House May 13, 2026

How they voted

400
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 44
Mar 25, 2025
D Democratic11
8 Yea 3
72% Yea
R Republican33
32 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
3
May 18, 2026
Signed into law
Signed By Governor
legislature
May 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
upper
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
lower
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 13, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (97-1-16)
house
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and sent to House
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Amended
Committee Amendment Tabled
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (40-0-4)
senate
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to Subcommittee: Adams (ch), Kimbrell, Devine, Blackmon, Kennedy, Leber, Walker
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors