The South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police remains committed to keeping law enforcement officers informed about legislative activity that affects our profession. This weekly Statehouse Report provides a clear, concise overview of key actions at the South Carolina Statehouse, including legislation we support, bills we are monitoring, and developments that may impact officer safety, due process, and the resources needed to effectively serve our communities. Through consistent engagement, the SCFOP continues to advocate for policies that strengthen law enforcement and protect those who wear the badge.

The South Carolina General Assembly adjourned its regular 2026 legislative session sine die on May 14, 2026. However, Governor Henry McMaster immediately ordered lawmakers into an extraordinary/special session starting May 15, 2026, to focus on redistricting and finalizing the state budget.  This means any bills can be debated in either chamber until November 2026. 

In the coming weeks, both chambers will also meet for conference committees on the state budget and numerous other bills.

Because this was the second year of a two-year legislative cycle, any bills filed in 2025 or 2026 that failed to pass before sine die died and must be reintroduced next year.

THIS WEEK’S ACTION

S 1199 – Chief Paul Shirer Retirement
05/21/26 Senate introduced and adopted.
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/1199.htm

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

A conference committee in South Carolina is a joint panel of six lawmakers (three from the House and three from the Senate) appointed to reconcile differences when one chamber refuses to accept amendments made by the other.

Committee Powers and Next Steps

• Conference Committee: The six members meet and try to negotiate a compromise. They can only compromise on the exact points of disagreement between the two versions of the bill.
• Free Conference Powers: If the committee is stuck and unable to agree, they may ask for “free conference powers,” which requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber. This grants the committee the authority to completely rewrite the bill to achieve a compromise.
• Ratification: Once an agreement is reached, the committee issues a conference report that must be adopted by both chambers before it is sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

S.52 By Senators Davis et. al. – Driving Under The Influence – Amends The Penalty Provisions To Permit Sentences Of Both Fines And Incarceration And To Require Convicted Persons To Attend DUI Victim Impact Panels In Conference Committee: Conferees Are: Sen(s) Hembree, Adams, and Tedder; Rep(s) Johnson, Robbins, and Rose.

H.4763 By Reps. Oremus, W. Newton, Et.Al. – HALO – Creates 25 Foot Buffer For Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Emergency Medical Care Providers in Conference Committee: Conferees Are: Sen(s) Adams, Kimbrell, and Walker; Rep(s) W.Newton, Brittain, and Bernstein.

H. 3924 By Reps. Wooten et. al. – Hemp-Derived Ingestible – Conference Committee Was Appointed: Rep(s). W. Newton, Jordan, Wetmore, and Sen(s). Massey, Johnson, Ott.

H.5126 – FY 2026-2027 South Carolina Budget – In Conference Committee: Conferees Are: Sen(s) Peeler, Davis, and Hutto, and Rep(s) Banister, Hiott, and Hayes.

108.13. (PEBA: PORS And SCRS Return To Work) Provides That Retired Members Of The SCRS And PORS A Retired Member Of The Police Officer Retirement System Can Return To Work And Earn Compensation Without Being Subject To The Usual Earnings Limitation If: They Have Not Worked For Any Participating Employer In The System — Or Any Other Retirement System Under Title 9—In Any Capacity (Employee, Contractor, Leased Worker, Etc.) For At Least 12 Consecutive Months After Retiring. They Certify To The System That They Meet This 12-Month Break Requirement. If The Member Incorrectly Certifies That They Qualify For The Exemption, They Must Repay Any Benefits They Received That They Were Not Entitled To.

108.14 (PEBA: PORS Return To Work) The Proviso Was Amended By The House By Adding Section B Which States That Retired Officers Can Exceed The Earnings Limit If Hired For A Critical Needs Law Enforcement Position Approved By The Law Enforcement Training Council (LETC). The LETC Must Confirm No Qualified Non-Retired Candidates Exist, Report Requested Positions To Legislative Leaders By January 1, And The Exemption Only Applies To Positions The General Assembly Approves. The LETC Must Also Create Re-Certification Guidelines. This Amendment Was Adopted By The House; However, The Senate Deleted The Amendment Which Returned The Proviso To The Original Version.

108.18. (PEBA: Retired Member Of PORS 90-Day Separation) A Retired Police Officers Retirement System (PORS) Member Who Has Been Out Of Service For At Least 90 Consecutive Days May Return To A PORS Covered Job. They Can Earn Up To $80,000 Per Year Without Reducing Their Monthly PORS Retirement Benefit. However, If The Officer Retired From A Supervisory Rank, They Are Not Allowed To Return To A Supervisory Position. Any Time Worked After Returning Does Not Add New Service Credit Toward Retirement. Added By The Senate And Not Included In The House Version. 

117.125. (School Resource Officer Critical Needs) Retired Class 1 Officers (Retired By Dec. 31, 2022) Can Return As School Resource Officers Without Losing Retirement Pay. They Must Be Re-Certified, But Cannot Be Required To Repeat Basic Training.

PRIORITIES

Our top legislative initiatives aim to strengthen law enforcement and public safety in South Carolina. Find out why these issues are critical in our Legislative Priorities section.

RETURN TO WORK LEGISLATION

H.3437	Reps. Pope et. al.	Return to Work (Critical Need) for Law Enforcement	House Ways and Means
H.3542	Rep. Williams	Lifting the cap if retires before January 2, 2026	House Ways and Means
S.107	Senator Rice	Retirement Earnings Limitation – Raises cap to about $22,320.	Senate Finance
S.118	Senator Adams	Constables Not Subject to Earnings Limitation	Senate Finance
S.119	Senator Adams	Lifts the 10,000 Earnings Limitation with 90 Days separation	Senate Finance
H.4593	Rep. Henderson-Myers	Return to Work Retirees do not pay system contributions	House Ways and Means
H.4612	Reps. Oremus and C. Mitchell	Earnings limitations do not apply to SROs	House Ways and Means

RETURN TO WORK BUDGET PROVISOS

A proviso in the South Carolina state budget is a temporary rule attached to the annual appropriations act that directs how funds may be used or restricted. It applies only for that fiscal year unless renewed. Provisos allow lawmakers to influence policy or agency operations without passing permanent legislation.

Earnings limitations do not apply to LEOs separated for 12 months –  108.13.

Earnings limitations do not apply to SROs –117.125.

Earnings limitations do not apply to a critical needs law enforcement position –   108.14 (removed by Senate)

The Senate adopted an amendment allowing retired law enforcement officers in the Police Officers Retirement System (PORS) to return to work after a 90-day break in service without losing their retirement benefits. Amendment No. 24

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RETIREE PENSION COLA INCREASES & TAX BREAKS

S.64	Senator Hembree	Retirement Income Tax Deduction for First Responders	Senate Finance
H.3410	Rep. Hardee	Property (Vehicle) Tax Exemption for Former First Responders	House Ways and Means
H.3416	Rep. Kilmartin	Retirement income Tax Deduction for First Responders	House Ways and Means
H.4175	Reps. Caskey et. al.	Exclude Wages Earned by Law Enforcement from Calculation of SC Income and Prohibit the Withholding of Taxes on Such Wages.	House Ways and Means
H.4294	Reps. Schuessler, Lawson, Pedalino, Brewer, Wooten, Oremus, McGinnis and Taylor	Gross income does not include certain retirement benefits	House Ways and Means
H.4620	Reps. Wooten, Gilliam, Pope, C. Mitchell and Clyburn	Retirement Allowance Adjustment	House Ways and Means

PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT K9s

H.3034	Reps. Collins and Wooten	Enhanced penalties for injuring police animals	Signed into law by Governor
S.427	Sen. Adams	Enhanced penalties for injuring police animals	Returned to committee so H.3034 would proceed
S.1100	Sen. Rankin	Enhanced penalties for injuring police animals	Returned to committee so H.3034 would proceed

HALO PROTECTION

H.3535	Reps. Wooten et. al.	Creates 25 foot buffer for law enforcement	Committee on Judiciary
S.175	Senator Zell	Creates 25 foot buffer for law enforcement	Committee on Judiciary
H.4763	Reps Oremus, et. al.	Creates 25 foot buffer for law enforcement	Senate Calendar

NON-FATAL STRANGULATION LAW

H.3522	Reps. Caskey et. al.	Defines Strangulation	Committee on Judiciary
S.455	Senator Adams	Defines Strangulation (Companion Bill to H.3522)	On the Senate Calendar

RECOGNITION

Bill #	Sponsor(s)	Description	Status
S.542	Senator Davis	Senate Resolution To Recognize May 11 Through May 17, 2025, As “Police Week In South Carolina”	Adopted
H.4314	Reps. Yow, et. al.	House Resolution To Recognize May 11 Through May 17, 2025, As “Police Week In South Carolina”	Adopted
S.1116	Senator Davis	Police Week in SC	Adopted
H.5610	Reps. Wooten, et al	Police Week in SC	Adopted
S.965	Senator Davis	SC Fraternal Order of Police 50th anniversary	Adopted
S.988	Kennedy	Fraternal Order of Police Midlands Lodge	Adopted
H.5194	Reps. Wooten, et. al.	Midlands Lodge #1 Fraternal Order of Police 50th Anniversary	Adopted

LEGISLATION WE SUPPORT

Bills that align with our mission and directly benefit law enforcement officers and their families.

Bill #	Sponsor(s)	Description	Status
H.3003	Reps. Collins and Beach	Officer Matthew Logan Hare Memorial Avenue	Adopted by the Senate and Returned to House with Concurrence
H.3052	Reps. Pope and Wooten	Enhanced Penalties for Assault on Law Enforcement Officer	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3053	Reps. Pope et. al.	Violent Crimes, Discharging Firearms into Dwellings	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3055	Reps Wooten et. al	Harassment and Stalking	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3093	Rep. Moss	Enhanced Penalties for Assaulting a First Responder or Healthcare Worker	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3124	Reps. Pope et. al.	Exposing First Responders to Fentanyl	Committee on Judiciary
H.3127	Rep. Robbins, Wooten and Lawson	Failure to Stop	Act No. 38
H.3159	Rep. Yow	Allows Retired Officer to Carry a Concealed Weapon	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3176	Rep. Davis	Enhanced Penalties for Failure to Stop	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3258	Reps. Pope et. al.	Requires Department of Education to Install Mobile Panic Alert Systems in All Public Schools	PASSED HOUSE Senate Calendar
H.3259	Reps. Pope and Gilliam	First Responder Automobile Insurance Premiums	Signed into law by Governor
H.3261	Reps. Pope and Gilliam	Workers’ Comp to Include Coverage for PTSD for First Responders	Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
H.3276	Reps. Pope et. al.	South Carolina Hands Free Act	Act No. 40
H.3281	Reps. McCravy et. al.	Fallen First Responders Advocate Position	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3392	Rep. Moss	Enhanced Penalties for Assaulting a Healthcare Worker or Emergency Response Employee	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3295	Rep. Hardy	Release of Vehicle Location Information to Law Enforcement Agency in Emergency Situations.	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3315	Rep. Collins	Authorize Correctional Officers to Serve Warrants without Magistrate Endorsing the Warrant.	House Committee on Judiciary
H.3363	Rep. B. Newton, et.al.	Catawba Nation to Become An Employer Under PEBA.	Referred To Ways and Means
H.3460	Rep. Wooten	Disclosure of Electronic Communication to Law Enforcement, Solicitors and Attorney General	Recommitted to Subcommittee Similar Bill S.74 is Being Debated.
H.3461	Rep Lawson	Excludes First Responder Wages from SC Gross Income	Referred To Ways and Means
H.3650	Reps. G.M. Smith et. al.	Discharging Firearms into Dwellings and other Structures	Signed into law by Governor
H.3907	Reps. B.J. Cox et. al.	Provides additional benefits for families of first responders killed in the line of duty	Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
H.4249	Rep. Erickson	Emergency Scene Management	Signed into law by Governor
H.4336	Reps. Hartnett et. al.	Relating To Assault And Battery Offenses, So As To Provide That Assault And Battery Of A High And Aggravated Nature Occurs When A Person Injures A Federal, State, Or Local Law Enforcement Officer Or Corrections Officer; A Healthcare Professional, Healthcare Worker, Or An Emergency Response Employee; Or An Educational Professional During Or Because Of The Person’s Official Duties.	House Committee on Judiciary
H.4678	Reps. Martin, Pope, M.M. Smith, Wooten and C. Mitchell	Law enforcement recruitment	House Committee on Judiciary
H.4682	Reps. Pope, Gilliam, Wooten and C. Mitchell	Law enforcement certification	House Committee on Judiciary
H.4740	Reps. McGinnis, Garvin, Grant, Yow and C. Mitchell	School Mapping Data Program	House Committee on Education and Public Works
H.4927	Reps. Oremus and Edgerton	Persistent Domestic Violence Offender Registry	Committee on Judiciary
H.5005	Rep. White	Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated nature, certain victims	House Committee on Judiciary
H.5048	Rep. Rose	Campus police officer dual employment	Committee on Ways and Means
H.5059	Reps. C. Mitchell, B. Newton, Sessions, Pope, Martin and Yow	Catawba Nation Police Department	Committee on Judiciary
H.5179	Reps. Erickson, McGinnis, Garvin, Grant, Yow, C. Mitchell and Wooten	School Mapping Data Program	Signed into law by Governor
H.5189	Reps. Pope, Guffey, King, Ligon, Martin, Moss, Sessions and Terribile	Officer Steven Wayne Jordan memorial intersection	Adopted, sent to Senate
H.5190	Reps. Pope, Guffey, King, Ligon, Martin, Moss, Sessions and Terribile	Officer Robert McFadden Memorial Street	Adopted, sent to Senate
H.5191	Reps. Pope, Guffey, King, Ligon, Martin, Moss, Sessions and Terribile	Detective William Singleton Memorial Highway	Adopted, sent to Senate
S.71	Senator Hembree	Enhanced Penalties for Assault and Battery Against a Law Enforcement Officer	Referred to Judiciary
S.74	Senator Hembree	Disclosure of Electronic Communications and Other Records	Act No. 59
S.111	Senator Rice	Enhanced Penalties for Vehicle Pursuit	On Senate Calendar
S.127	Senator Johnson	Adds Catawba Nation to PORS	Act No. 60
S.156	Senators Alexander et. al.	Fentanyl Induced Homicide	Act No. 61
S.447	Senator Adams	Automated License Plate Reader System	Committee on Judiciary
S.699	Senator Goldfinch	Emergency Scene Management	Committee on Transportation
S.739	Senator Kennedy	Incitement to Riot	Senate Committee on Judiciary
S.745	Senator Ott	Help Find Missing Americans Act	Senate Committee on Judiciary
S.775	Senator Elliott	Injuring police dogs or horses	Senate Committee on Judiciary
S.850	Elliott, Zell and Turner	Honor Our First Responders Act	Committee on Finance

LEGISLATION WE ARE MONITORING

Legislative proposals we are tracking to assess their potential impact on law enforcement and public safety.

Bill #	Sponsor(s)	Description	Status
H.3016	Rep. Rutherford	Interrogation of Child	Referred to Judiciary
H.3068	Rep. Rutherford	Revised forfeiture procedures	Referred to Judiciary
H.3126	Rep. Pope	Creation of the South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement and Public Safety	Referred to Judiciary
H.3131	Rep. Rutherford	Disallows Law Enforcement from Purchasing Cell Site Simulator	Referred to Judiciary
H.3133	Rep. Rutherford	Disallows Law Enforcement from Stopping Vehicles that don’t have License Plate Illumination	Referred to Education and Public Works
H.3134	Rep. Rutherford	Disallows Law Enforcement from Purchasing Cell Site Simulator	Referred to Judiciary
H.3139	Rep. Rutherford	Certification of Law Enforcement Officers	Referred to Judiciary
H.3155	Rep. Rutherford	Automatic License Plate Readers	Referred to Judiciary
H.3170	Rep. Beach	Unlawful to Drive Vehicles with Drivers’ Licenses Not Recognized.	Referred to Education and Public Works
H.3283	Rep. Long	CWP on College Campuses	Referred to Judiciary
H.3285	Rep. Landing	Education of Law Enforcement Officers or EMS to Include Training Course in Autism	Signed into law by Governor
H.3288	Rep. J.L. Johnson	Allows Persons who are Subjects of Body Camera Video Data to Receive Footage by Simple Request.	Referred to Judiciary
H.3289	Rep. J.L. Johnson	Include 911 Operators as “First Responders”	Referred to Ways and Means
H.3378	Rep. Burns et al.	Exempt All Property from Taxation and Provide Dollar-for-Dollar Reimbursement to Political Subdivisions	Referred To Ways and Means
H.3421	Rep. Long	Retirement Investment Commission Cannot Invest Funds with China	Referred To Ways and Means
H.3794	Reps. Mitchell and Pope	Allow Public Defender Investigators to Carry Concealable Weapons	Referred To Judiciary
H.3799	Reps. Wooten et. al.	Law Enforcement Officer Certificates of Compliance	Referred To Judiciary
H.3806	Reps. Hart and Henderson-Meyers	Driving While Using Wireless Communication Devices	Referred To Judiciary
H.3855	Reps. Huff et. al.	Sales Tax Exemption for Small Arms and Small Arms Ammunition	Referred To Ways and Means
H.3868	Reps. J. Moore et. al.	Sale, Exchange or Transfer of Firearms Require National Instant Criminal Background Checks	Referred To Judiciary
H.4005	Reps. Henderson-Meyers et. al.	Driving Under the Influence	Referred To Judiciary
H.4011	Rep. Erickson	Department of Motor Vehicles – “Temporary Driving Certificate”	Passed House – Sent to Senate -Referred to Committee on Transportation
H.4013	Reps. J.E. Johnson et. al.	Automated License Plate Readers	Referred To Education and Public Works
H.4092	Reps. Kilmartin et. al.	Sales Tax Exemption During The Month Of July 2025 For Handguns, Rifles, Shotguns, And Ammunition	Referred to Ways and Means
H.4129	Reps. Brewer et. al.	Gambling, Exceptions: A Person Who Pays A Fee To Play A Game In Which Skill Predominates Over Chance And Receives A Prize Proportionate To How Skillfully He Played Is Not Gambling.	Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
H.4137	Reps. B.J. Cox et. al.	American Heroes Bingo	Referred to Senate Finance Committee
H.4387	Yow, B. Newton and Mitchell	Law Enforcement Officer Misconduct	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
H.4399	Holman, J.L. Johnson, B.L. Cox and Sanders	First Responder Wellness Exams	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
H.4542	Rep. Bailey	Horry County Police Commission	House Committee on Horry Delegation
H.4778	Reps. Pedalino, C. Mitchell and Chumley	Electronic recordings of interviews and interrogations	House Committee on Judiciary
H.4806	Reps. Wooten and Pope	Bond Reform	House Committee on Judiciary
H.5120	By Cox, Garvin, Holman, T. Moore, Sessions and Wetmore	Fingerprinting, offenses by minors	Senate Calendar
S.8	Senator Jackson	Training Council to Set Policies and Procedures for Vehicle Pursuits	Referred to Judiciary Subcommittee
S.90	Senator Young	Hands Free Act	Referred To Transportation
S.126	Senator Johnson	Relating to Definitions, so as to Include Additional Information in the Definition of “Personal Contact Information” and to Define “Disclosed Records”	Act No. 4
S.136	Senator Tedder	Dismissal of Pending Gun Possession Charges	Veto overridden by Senate on 5/28/25 and by House on 1/14/26
S.142	Senator Devine	Requires CJA to Develop Use of Force Model Policy, Qualified Immunity	Referred To Judiciary
S.145	Senator Devine	Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act Repeal	Referred To Judiciary
S.149	Senator Devine	Juvenile Justice Reform Act	Referred To Judiciary
S.168	Senator Campsen	Concealed Weapon Permits Program	Carried Over
S.270	Senators Alexander et. al.	Define Attempted Murder	On Senate Calendar
S.297	Senator Turner	Employer And Employee Contribution Rates Under SCRS And PORS	Referred To Finance
S.300	Senator Tedder	Background Checks Before Sale or Transfer of Firearms	Referred To Judiciary
S.338	Senators Climer and Kimbrell	Second Amendment Privacy Act	Referred to Judiciary
S.346	Senator Alexander	Enhanced Penalties for Assault on Firefighter and Health Professionals	On Senate Calendar
S.386	Senator Elliott	Retired Law Enforcement Officers – Concealed Weapons Permit	Referred to Judiciary
S.398	Senators Stubbs and Zell	Allow Individuals With Military Or Law Enforcement Experience To Be Eligible To Be Appointed As A Magistrate In Counties With Less Than Fifty Thousand People.	Referred to Judiciary
S.448	Senator Tedder et. al.	Electronic Driver’s License System	Referred to Transportation
S.518	Senator Grooms	“South Carolina Pray Safe Act”	Referred to Judiciary
S.520	Senator Davis	“South Carolina Pray Safe Act”	Referred to Judiciary
S.521	Senator Garrett	Allows Municipal Court Judges To Participate In PORS	Referred to Judiciary
S.664	Senator Devine	South Carolina Speed Safety Act	Referred to Transportation
S.716	Senators Garrett and Kennedy	Bonds	Senate Committee on Judiciary
S.719	Senator Tedder	Rights of detained persons	Senate Committee on Judiciary

REGULATIONS

Updates to the South Carolina Code of State Regulations

Bill #	Sponsor(s)	Description	Status
5302	SCCJA	Investigation of Events Requiring Withdrawal of Certification; Notification to Officer	Approved by House Regs Committee
5304	SCCJA	37-108. Sanctions	Approved by House Regs Committee