S 156 — Fentanyl Induced Homicide
Last action — Act No. 61
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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 14, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on May 22, 2025.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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11 sponsors
11 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Mixed recorded votes
6 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-80 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF FENTANYL-INDUCED HOMICIDE, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS, TO PROHIBIT AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH PERSONS SHALL NOT BE PROSECUTED UNDER THIS SECTION; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-1-10, RELATING TO A LIST OF EXCEPTIONS FOR FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS, SO AS TO ADD FENTANYL-INDUCED HOMICIDE. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
4 added · 22 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest version of Bill S 156 includes an addition that establishes a specific offense for fentanyl-induced homicide, along with penalties for violations. It also clarifies that there will be no affirmative defense allowed in such cases. This change is important as it aims to hold individuals accountable for overdose deaths linked to fentanyl, reflecting growing concerns over the opioid crisis and the need for stricter legal measures to deter this type of crime.
2025-2026 Bill 156 Text of Previous Version (Feb.(Jan.
19,14, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 156Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Committee Report February 19, 2025 S. A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-80 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF FENTANYL-INDUCED HOMICIDE, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION, AND TO PROHIBIT AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE;
156 Introduced by Senators Alexander, Rankin, Garrett, Stubbs, Adams and Bennett S.
Printed 2/19/25--S.
Read the first time January 14, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Judiciary To whom was referred a Bill (S.
156) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 16-3-80 so as to create the offense of fentanyl-induced homicide, to provide a penalty for a violation, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
LUKE RANKIN for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-80 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF FENTANYL-INDUCED HOMICIDE, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION, AND TO PROHIBIT AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE;
----XX---- This web page was last updated on FebruaryJanuary 19,14, 2025 at 05:1912:29 PM
View plain text versions (9)
Action History
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Act No. 61
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Effective date 05/22/25
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Signed By Governor
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Ratified R 87
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Ordered enrolled for ratification
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Free conference report adopted
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Free conference committee appointed Hembree, Sabb, Adams
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Free conference powers granted
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Roll call Yeas-92 Nays-14
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Free conference report adopted
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Free conference committee appointed JE Johnson, Robbins, Rose
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Roll call Yeas-101 Nays-7
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Free conference powers granted
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Conference committee appointed Hembree, Sabb, Adams
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House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. JE Johnson, Robbins, Rose
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Roll call Ayes-1 Nays-40
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Non-concurrence in House amendment
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Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
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Roll call Yeas-96 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Amended
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Requests for debate-Rep(s). B Newton, Guest, Weeks, Jordan, Spann-Wilder, Garvin, Hosey, Williams, Martin, King
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to House
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Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Amended
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Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
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Referred to Subcommittee: Adams (ch), Tedder, Fernandez, Kennedy, Sutton
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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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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Senator Thomas C. Alexander · Primary
- Senator Luke A. Rankin · Primary
- Senator Billy Garrett · Primary
- Senator Everett Stubbs · Primary
- Senator Brian Adams · Primary
- Senator Sean M. Bennett · Primary
- Senator Josh Kimbrell · Primary
- Jr. Senator Tom Young · Primary
- Senator Ross Turner · Primary
- Jr. Senator Harvey S. Peeler · Primary
- Senator Overture Walker · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →11 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 159 not signed on · 45 voted No
Sponsors (11)
- Senator Thomas C. Alexander Voted No
- Senator Luke A. Rankin
- Senator Billy Garrett Voted No
- Senator Everett Stubbs Voted No
- Senator Brian Adams Voted No
- Senator Sean M. Bennett Voted No
- Senator Josh Kimbrell Voted No
- Senator Tom Young, Jr. Voted No
- Senator Ross Turner Voted No
- Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. Voted No
- Senator Overture Walker Voted No
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (159)
159 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 159 →"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 | 98 | 6 | 0 | 15 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 101 | 7 | 0 | 15 |
| % of votes cast | 82% | 6% | 0% | 12% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 88 | 13 | 0 | 17 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 91 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| % of votes cast | 75% | 11% | 0% | 14% |
How each member voted (122)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 44 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 44 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 96% | 2% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (46)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 96% | 0% | 0% | 4% |
How each member voted (46)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 40 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 1 | 40 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 2% | 91% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (44)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 95 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 96 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| % of votes cast | 78% | 0% | 0% | 22% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 43 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 43 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 93% | 0% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (46)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 156 do?
- AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-80 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF FENTANYL-INDUCED HOMICIDE, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS, TO PROHIBIT AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH PERSONS SHALL NOT BE PROSECUTED UNDER THIS SECTION; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-1-10, RELATING TO A LIST OF EXCEPTIONS FOR FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS, SO AS TO ADD FENTANYL-INDUCED HOMICIDE. - RATIFIED TITLE
- Who sponsors S 156?
- S 156 is sponsored by Senator Thomas C. Alexander, Senator Luke A. Rankin, Senator Billy Garrett, Senator Everett Stubbs, Senator Brian Adams, Senator Sean M. Bennett, Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Tom Young, Jr., Senator Ross Turner, Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., and Senator Overture Walker.
- What is the current status of S 156?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 14, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track S 156?
- Track S 156 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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