South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 3529

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. W. Newton, Bannister, Caskey, Wooten, Spann-Wilder, Calhoon, Ballentine, Robbins, Mitchell and Weeks
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3521
Document Path: LC-0081AHB25.docx

Introduced in the House on January 14, 2025
Introduced in the Senate on February 13, 2025
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: Family Court Judges, additional

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
12/5/2024 House Prefiled
12/5/2024 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/14/2025 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 235)
1/14/2025 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 235)
2/5/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Calhoon, Ballentine
2/6/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Robbins, Mitchell
2/6/2025 House Committee report: Favorable Judiciary (House Journal-page 4)
2/12/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Weeks
2/12/2025 House Read second time (House Journal-page 32)
2/12/2025 House Roll call Yeas-106 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 32)
2/13/2025 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 12)
2/13/2025 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 12)
2/13/2025 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 12)
2/27/2025 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Elliott (ch), Cash, Tedder, Devine, Fernandez, Kennedy, Walker
3/12/2025 Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 9)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/05/2024
02/06/2025
03/12/2025
03/13/2025



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Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

March 13, 2025

 

H. 3529

 

Introduced by Reps. W. Newton, Bannister, Caskey, Wooten, Spann-Wilder, Calhoon, Ballentine, Robbins, Mitchell and Weeks

 

S. Printed 3/13/25--S.                                                                            [SEC 3/13/2025 5:46 PM]

Read the first time February 13, 2025

 

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The committee on Senate Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3529) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-3-40, relating to family court judges elected from each judicial circuit, so as to increase by one, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

   

 

LUKE RANKIN for Committee.

 

 

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT JUDGES ELECTED FROM EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO INCREASE BY ONE THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES IN THE NINTH, ELEVENTH, AND FOURTEENTH CIRCUITS.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Section 63-3-40(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (A) The General Assembly shall elect a number of family court judges from each judicial circuit as follows:

22

First Circuit

Four Judges

23

Second Circuit

Two Judges

24

Third Circuit

Three Judges

25

Fourth Circuit

Three Judges

26

Fifth Circuit

Four Judges

27

Sixth Circuit

Two Judges

28

Seventh Circuit

Four Judges

29

Eighth Circuit

Three Judges

30

Ninth Circuit

SixSeven Judges

31

Tenth Circuit

Three Judges

32

Eleventh Circuit

ThreeFour Judges

33

Twelfth Circuit

Three Judges

34

Thirteenth Circuit

Six Judges

35

Fourteenth Circuit

ThreeFour Judges

36

Fifteenth Circuit

Three Judges

37

Sixteenth Circuit

Three Judges


 

SECTION 2.  The Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall begin the process of nominating

candidates for the judicial offices authorized by the provisions of SECTION 1. The General Assembly then shall elect these judges from the nominees of the commission; except that, the nominating process may not begin until funding for the additional judges is provided in the general appropriations act.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on March 13, 2025 at 5:46 PM