Senator Ott proposes the following amendment (SR-244.CEM0074S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. Section 38-77-140 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 38-77-140. (A) An automobile insurance policy may not be issued or delivered in this State to the owner of a motor vehicle or may not be issued or delivered by an insurer licensed in this State upon a motor vehicle then principally garaged or principally used in this State, unless it contains a provision insuring the persons defined as insured against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of these motor vehicles within the United States or Canada, subject to limits exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each motor vehicle, as follows:
  (1) twenty-fivethirty thousand dollars and increase by five thousand dollars each subsequent year until coverage is equal to fifty thousand dollars, because of bodily injury to one person in any one accident and, subject to the limit for one person;
  (2) fifty sixty thousand dollars and increase by ten thousand dollars each subsequent year until coverage is equal to one hundred thousand dollars, because of bodily injury to two or more persons in any one accident; and
  (3) twenty-five thirty thousand dollars and increase by five thousand dollars each subsequent year until coverage is equal to fifty thousand dollars, because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
 (B) Nothing in this article prevents an insurer from issuing, selling, or delivering a policy providing liability coverage in excess of these requirements.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 8, by striking Section 38-77-150(A) and inserting:

 (A) No automobile insurance policy or contract may be issued or delivered unless it contains a provision by endorsement or otherwise, herein referred to as the uninsured motorist provision, undertaking to pay the insured all sums which he is legally entitled to recover as damages from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle, within limits which may be no less than the requirements of Section 38-77-140. The uninsured motorist provision is not required to include coverage for punitive or exemplary damages. The uninsured motorist provision also must provide for no less than twenty-five thirty thousand dollars and increase by five thousand dollars each subsequent year until coverage is equal to fifty thousand dollars, coverage for injury to or destruction of the property of the insured in any one accident but may provide an exclusion of the first two hundred dollars of the loss or damage. The director or his designee may prescribe the form to be used in providing uninsured motorist coverage and when prescribed and promulgated no other form may be used.

Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X.  The provisions contained in Sections 38-77-140 and 38-77-150 that relate to the increase of the minimum limits for automobile insurance policies will only apply to automobile insurance policies issues or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.