S 235 — Prostitution
Last action — Effective date 05/18/26
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 16, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on May 18, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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3 sponsors
3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill amends laws related to prostitution in South Carolina.
This bill revises definitions and penalties for prostitution-related offenses and provides exceptions for certain victims. It also allows for rehabilitation and expungement of records for some convicted individuals.
What this means for you
- Workers: If you have been involved in prostitution and were coerced, you may have a chance for rehabilitation and record expungement.
Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-90, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," REVISE THE STATUTE AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-100, RELATING TO FURTHER ACTS OF PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, REVISE THE STATUTE REGARDING PROMOTING PROSTITUTION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION TO PERSONS COERCED AS RESULT OF BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-110, RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION OFFENSES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-15-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF A PROSTITUTION OFFENSE MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF THE ARREST RECORD. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
6 added · 18 removed6 line(s) added, 18 removed.
2025-2026 Bill 235 Text of Previous Version (Mar.(Jan.
03,16, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 235Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Introduced MarchA 3,bill 2025 S.TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-90, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO REVISE THE STATUTE TO PROHIBIT PROSTITUTION BY A PROSTITUTED PERSON AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS;
235 Introduced by Senators Kimbrell and Leber S.
Printed 3/3/25--S. [SEC 3/3/2025 12:09 PM] Read the first time January 16, 2025 ________ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-90, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO REVISE THE STATUTE TO PROHIBIT PROSTITUTION BY A PROSTITUTED PERSON AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS;
(1) Procure procure a female person inmate for a house of prostitution place, structure, building, vehicle, trailer, or conveyance for the purpose of prostitution;
----XX---- This web page was last updated on MarchJanuary 03,16, 2025 at 12:1011:39 PMAM
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Action History
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Effective date 05/18/26
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Act No. 192
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Signed By Governor
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Ratified R 222
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Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
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Roll call Yeas-107 Nays-1
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Read second time
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Amended
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Debate adjourned
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Read third time and sent to House
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Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Amended
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Committee Amendment Tabled
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Referred to Subcommittee: Adams (ch), Kimbrell, Devine, Blackmon, Kennedy, Leber, Walker
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Senator Josh Kimbrell · Primary
- Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber · Primary
- Senator Jeff Zell · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 167 not signed on · 1 voted No
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (167)
167 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 167 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 103 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 106 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| % of votes cast | 86% | 1% | 0% | 13% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 91% | 0% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (44)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 235 do?
- AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-90, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," REVISE THE STATUTE AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-100, RELATING TO FURTHER ACTS OF PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, REVISE THE STATUTE REGARDING PROMOTING PROSTITUTION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION TO PERSONS COERCED AS RESULT OF BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-110, RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION OFFENSES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-15-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF A PROSTITUTION OFFENSE MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF THE ARREST RECORD. - RATIFIED TITLE
- Who sponsors S 235?
- S 235 is sponsored by Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber, and Senator Jeff Zell.
- What is the current status of S 235?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 16, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track S 235?
- Track S 235 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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