South Carolina 126th General Assembly Status: Introduced

H 4644 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 63-17-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CHILD SUPPORT AND THE CREATION OF A PARENTING PLAN AND TIME-SHARING SCHEDULE FOR A CHILD OF UNMARRIED PARENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-17-10, RELATING TO PATERNITY ACTIONS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-5-30, RELATING TO RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF PARENTS OF MINOR CHILDREN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN UNMARRIED MOTHER AND A FATHER WHO HAS ESTABLISHED PATERNITY ARE THE NATURAL GUARDIANS OF THE CHILD.

Last action — Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 45)

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced December 16, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Paternity

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read H 4644 on the official South Carolina source →

Action History

  1. Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 45)

  2. Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 45)

  3. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

  4. Prefiled

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 168 not signed on

Not signed on (168)

168 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does H 4644 do?
Paternity
Who sponsors H 4644?
H 4644 is sponsored by Representative Sarita L. Edgerton and Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope.
What is the current status of H 4644?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced December 16, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track H 4644?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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