S 723 South Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

CSAM penalties

Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-395, RELATING TO FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR DEFINED; PRESUMPTIONS; DEFENSES; PENALTIES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-405, RELATING TO SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR DEFINED; PRESUMPTIONS; DEFENSES; PENALTIES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-410, RELATING TO THIRD DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR DEFINED; PENALTIES; EXCEPTION, 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 ESTABLISH THAT A PERSON WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER AND VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION, UPON CONVICTION, MUST SERVE A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

430
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 44
Feb 24, 2026
D Democratic11
10 Yea 1
90% Yea
R Republican33
33 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and sent to House
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment Adopted
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-0-1)
senate
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Dec 10, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors