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S 59 South Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Increased Penalties for Driving Without a License

Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 56-1-440, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
Issues: ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens vehicle safety regulations by increasing penalties for unlicensed driving, directly addressing transportation safety under vehicle regulations.85% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Jan 22, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Jan 14, 2026

How they voted

37–0
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 44
Jan 14, 2026
D Democratic12
8 Yea 4
66% Yea
R Republican32
29 Yea 3
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and sent to House
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (37-0-7)
senate
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable Transportation
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Dec 11, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Rex Rice
Rex Rice
RRepublican
SC
2
P
Photo of Sean Bennett
Sean Bennett
RRepublican
SC
38