H 4755 — Judicial Selection Reform
Last action — Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 16, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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64 sponsors
64 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 4 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.
Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-19-5, 2-19-20, 2-19-30, 2-19-35, 2-19-50, 2-19-60 AND 2-19-70, ALL RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION SCREENING AND ELECTION OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE STAFFING AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSFER THAT AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR, TO PROHIBIT SITTING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION, TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION FROM CONSIDERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CRITERIA ALONG WITH OTHER SIMILAR CRITERIA, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
2 added · 85 removedPlain-language change summary
In the latest version of Bill H 4755, there were several deletions and some new content added to streamline the legislation. Notably, 85 lines of text were removed, which likely means that some provisions were either deemed unnecessary or redundant. The addition of updated lines indicates that the bill is being refined for clarity or to better align with current laws. This matters as it helps ensure that the bill is more effective and easier to understand, promoting better governance and compliance.
2025-2026 Bill 4755 Text of Previous Version (Feb.(Dec.
05,17, 2026)2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 4755Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Februarybill 5, 2026TO AMEND H.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-19-5, 2-19-20, 2-19-30, 2-19-35, 2-19-50, 2-19-60 AND 2-19-70, ALL RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION SCREENING AND ELECTION OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE STAFFING AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSFER THAT AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR, TO PROHIBIT SITTING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION, TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION FROM CONSIDERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CRITERIA ALONG WITH OTHER SIMILAR CRITERIA, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
4755 Introduced by Reps.
Gatch, G.
M.
Smith, W.
Newton, Caskey, Jordan, Bailey, Ballentine, Brewer, Brittain, Chapman, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Duncan, Edgerton, Forrest, Gagnon, Gilliam, Guest, Guffey, Hager, Hardee, Hartz, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Huff, Kilmartin, Lawson, Long, Lowe, Magnuson, Martin, McCravy, McGinnis, C.
Mitchell, B.
Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Sanders, Schuessler, Sessions, M.
M.
Smith, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, White, Whitmire, Willis, Yow, Erickson, Chumley, Ford, Lastinger and Wickensimer S.
Printed 2/5/26--H.
Read the first time January 13, 2026 ________ The committee on House Judiciary To whom was referred a Bill (H.
4755) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Sections 2-19-5, 2-19-20, 2-19-30, 2-19-35, 2-19-50, 2-19-60 and 2-19-70, all relating to the South Carolina, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
W.
NEWTON for Committee.
statement of estimated fiscal impact Explanation of Fiscal Impact State Expenditure This bill makes several changes to the appointment requirements, procedures, and other related policies for the JMSC.
Currently, the JMSC is made up of four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three of whom must be members of the House of Representatives, two members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom must be a member of the Senate, two members appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, both of whom must be members of the Senate, and four members appointed by the Governor.
Under the bill, all twelve appointments to the commission are to be made by the Governor's Office, eight of whom must be members of the South Carolina Bar in good standing, and no more than four of whom may be law enforcement professionals.
The bill further states that no member of the General Assembly nor their spouse, children, or siblings may serve on the JMSC, and must wait no fewer than two years before qualifying for selection by the Governor.
Staffing for the JMSC under this bill will be a responsibility of the Governor's Office.
The bill further modifies the JMSC investigation process of a prospective judicial selection and adjusts requirements for candidates in submitting written testimony and requires that confidential information be reserved for JMSC executive session.
The bill makes further modifications to anti-discrimination policies of the commission, confidential record keeping, and subpoena power of the commission.
The bill also removes certain privileges for family members of General Assembly members, violators of which must be reported to the State Ethics Commission.
The bill takes effect on February 1, 2027, at which time the previous commission members shall vacate their seats immediately to be replaced by those selected by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of the bill.
Governor's Office.
The Governor's Office indicates that providing staff for the JMSC as required by the bill will increase office expenditures.
The office indicates that two attorneys and one paralegal will be needed to carry out duties required of commission staff, with annual salary and fringe expenses of $596,095.
Annual operating expenses related to the three additional staff members, including technology equipment, software licensing and network expansion, travel, training, workspace rent, and other miscellaneous items are expected to total $104,124 per year, for total new recurring expenses of $700,219.
The Governor's Office further anticipates one-time equipment and software purchases for the additional staff totaling $321,000 in non-recurring expenses.
Therefore, this bill is expected to increase General Fund expenditures for the Governor's Office by approximately $1,021,000 in FY 2026-27 and $700,000 in each year thereafter.
The Governor's Office indicates that additional General Funds will be needed to cover these expenses.
House of Representatives and Senate.
This bill removes members of the General Assembly from being eligible to serve on the JMSC and states that staffing for the commission must be provided by the Governor's Office.
The Senate indicates that some expenditure savings may be realized due to the elimination of per diem and travel expenses for Senate members of the JMSC.
The House of Representative indicates that the bill is not expected to result in a fiscal impact for the body.
State Ethics Commission.
The bill amends statutes related to the JMSC, violators of which must be reported to the State Ethics Commission.
Show all 44 changed lines (4 more)
The commission indicates that this will be managed with current resources and will have no fiscal impact.
Frank A.
Rainwater, Executive Director Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office _______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-19-5, 2-19-20, 2-19-30, 2-19-35, 2-19-50, 2-19-60 AND 2-19-70, ALL RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION SCREENING AND ELECTION OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE STAFFING AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSFER THAT AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR, TO PROHIBIT SITTING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION, TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION FROM CONSIDERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CRITERIA ALONG WITH OTHER SIMILAR CRITERIA, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on FebruaryDecember 05,17, 20262025 at 03:2101:41 PM
Show all 44 changed rows (4 more)
Action History
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Roll call Yeas-71 Nays-10
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Read third time and sent to Senate
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Roll call Yeas-86 Nays-25
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Read second time
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Amended
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: D.Mitchell, Gilreath
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Requests for debate-Rep(s). B Newton, Hewitt, Cox, Lawson, McCravy, Long, White, Edgerton, Magnuson, Hixon, Taylor, Hartz, Cromer
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers
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Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger, Wickensimer
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ford
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Prefiled
Sponsors
- Representative Gil Gatch · Primary
- Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton · Primary
- Representative Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV · Primary
- Jr. Representative Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan · Primary
- Representative William H. Bailey · Primary
- Representative Nathan Ballentine · Primary
- Jr. Representative Gary S. Brewer · Primary
- Jr. T. Case Brittain · Primary
- Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman · Primary
- Representative Heather Ammons Crawford · Primary
- Representative April Cromer · Primary
- Representative Sylleste H. Davis · Primary
- Representative Adam L. Duncan · Primary
- Representative Sarita L. Edgerton · Primary
- Jr. Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest · Primary
- Representative Craig A. Gagnon · Primary
- Representative Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam · Primary
- Jr. Representative Thomas Duval "Val" Guest · Primary
- Representative Brandon Guffey · Primary
- Representative William "Bill" Hager · Primary
- Representative Kevin Hardee · Primary
- Representative Charles V. Hartz · Primary
- Representative William G. "Bill" Herbkersman · Primary
- Representative Lee Hewitt · Primary
- Representative David R. Hiott · Primary
- Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon · Primary
- Representative Harriet A. Holman · Primary
- Representative William C. "Chris" Huff · Primary
- Representative John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin · Primary
- Representative M. Brian Lawson · Primary
- Representative Steven Wayne Long · Primary
- Representative Phillip D. Lowe · Primary
- Representative Josiah Magnuson · Primary
- Representative David Martin · Primary
- Representative John R. McCravy III · Primary
- Representative Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis · Primary
- Representative Cody T. Mitchell · Primary
- Representative Brandon Newton · Primary
- Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus · Primary
- Representative Jordan S. Pace · Primary
- Representative Fawn M. Pedalino · Primary
- Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope · Primary
- Representative Luke S. Rankin · Primary
- Representative Richard Blake Sanders · Primary
- Carla M. Schuessler · Primary
- Representative Heath Sessions · Primary
- Representative Bill Taylor · Primary
- Representative James E. Teeple · Primary
- Representative Jackie R. Terribile · Primary
- Representative David Vaughan · Primary
- Representative Joseph S. "Joe" White · Primary
- Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire · Primary
- Representative Mark N. Willis · Primary
- Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow · Primary
- Representative Shannon S. Erickson · Primary
- Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley · Primary
- Representative Paul B. Wickensimer · Primary
- Representative Phillip Bowers · Primary
- Representative Thomas Lee Gilreath · Primary
- Jr. Representative John T. Lastinger · Primary
- Representative Greg Ford · Primary
- Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith · Primary
- Representative Dianne Mitchell · Primary
- Jr. Representative G. Murrell Smith · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →64 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 106 not signed on · 30 voted No
Sponsors (64)
- Representative Gil Gatch
- Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton
- Representative Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV
- Representative Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr.
- Representative William H. Bailey
- Representative Nathan Ballentine
- Representative Gary S. Brewer, Jr.
- T. Case Brittain, Jr. Republican
- Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman
- Representative Heather Ammons Crawford
- Representative April Cromer Voted No
- Representative Sylleste H. Davis
- Representative Adam L. Duncan
- Representative Sarita L. Edgerton
- Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr.
- Representative Craig A. Gagnon
- Representative Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam
- Representative Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.
- Representative Brandon Guffey
- Representative William "Bill" Hager
- Representative Kevin Hardee
- Representative Charles V. Hartz
- Representative William G. "Bill" Herbkersman
- Representative Lee Hewitt
- Representative David R. Hiott
- Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon
- Representative Harriet A. Holman
- Representative William C. "Chris" Huff
- Representative John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin
- Representative M. Brian Lawson
- Representative Steven Wayne Long
- Representative Phillip D. Lowe
- Representative Josiah Magnuson
- Representative David Martin
- Representative John R. McCravy III
- Representative Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis
- Representative Cody T. Mitchell
- Representative Brandon Newton
- Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus
- Representative Jordan S. Pace
- Representative Fawn M. Pedalino
- Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
- Representative Luke S. Rankin
- Representative Richard Blake Sanders
- Carla M. Schuessler Republican
- Representative Heath Sessions
- Representative Bill Taylor
- Representative James E. Teeple
- Representative Jackie R. Terribile
- Representative David Vaughan
- Representative Joseph S. "Joe" White
- Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire
- Representative Mark N. Willis
- Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow
- Representative Shannon S. Erickson
- Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley
- Representative Paul B. Wickensimer
- Representative Phillip Bowers
- Representative Thomas Lee Gilreath
- Representative John T. Lastinger, Jr.
- Representative Greg Ford
- Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith
- Representative Dianne Mitchell
- Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (106)
106 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 106 →"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 | 69 | 9 | 0 | 42 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 71 | 10 | 0 | 43 |
| % of votes cast | 57% | 8% | 0% | 35% |
How each member voted (124)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 84 | 23 | 0 | 12 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 86 | 24 | 0 | 13 |
| % of votes cast | 70% | 20% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 82 | 30 | 0 | 7 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 84 | 31 | 0 | 8 |
| % of votes cast | 68% | 25% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 83 | 25 | 0 | 11 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 85 | 26 | 0 | 12 |
| % of votes cast | 69% | 21% | 0% | 10% |
How each member voted (123)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does H 4755 do?
- A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-19-5, 2-19-20, 2-19-30, 2-19-35, 2-19-50, 2-19-60 AND 2-19-70, ALL RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION SCREENING AND ELECTION OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE STAFFING AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSFER THAT AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR, TO PROHIBIT SITTING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION, TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION FROM CONSIDERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CRITERIA ALONG WITH OTHER SIMILAR CRITERIA, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
- Who sponsors H 4755?
- H 4755 is sponsored by Representative Gil Gatch, Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton, Representative Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV, Representative Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr., Representative William H. Bailey, Representative Nathan Ballentine, Representative Gary S. Brewer, Jr., T. Case Brittain, Jr. (Republican), Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman, Representative Heather Ammons Crawford, Representative April Cromer, Representative Sylleste H. Davis, Representative Adam L. Duncan, Representative Sarita L. Edgerton, Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr., Representative Craig A. Gagnon, Representative Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam, Representative Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr., Representative Brandon Guffey, Representative William "Bill" Hager, Representative Kevin Hardee, Representative Charles V. Hartz, Representative William G. "Bill" Herbkersman, Representative Lee Hewitt, Representative David R. Hiott, Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon, Representative Harriet A. Holman, Representative William C. "Chris" Huff, Representative John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin, Representative M. Brian Lawson, Representative Steven Wayne Long, Representative Phillip D. Lowe, Representative Josiah Magnuson, Representative David Martin, Representative John R. McCravy III, Representative Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis, Representative Cody T. Mitchell, Representative Brandon Newton, Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus, Representative Jordan S. Pace, Representative Fawn M. Pedalino, Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope, Representative Luke S. Rankin, Representative Richard Blake Sanders, Carla M. Schuessler (Republican), Representative Heath Sessions, Representative Bill Taylor, Representative James E. Teeple, Representative Jackie R. Terribile, Representative David Vaughan, Representative Joseph S. "Joe" White, Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire, Representative Mark N. Willis, Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow, Representative Shannon S. Erickson, Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley, Representative Paul B. Wickensimer, Representative Phillip Bowers, Representative Thomas Lee Gilreath, Representative John T. Lastinger, Jr., Representative Greg Ford, Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith, Representative Dianne Mitchell, and Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr..
- What is the current status of H 4755?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 16, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track H 4755?
- Track H 4755 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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