S 170 — Surgical Smoke Evacuation System
Last action — Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 14, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
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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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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8 sponsors
8 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote 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
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-387 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LICENSED FACILITY TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SURGICAL SMOKE BY REQURING THE USE OF A SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
3 added · 43 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest version of Bill S 170 includes an important amendment regarding its effective date. Specifically, the new version adjusts the implementation timeline, allowing it to take effect on July 1, 2026, for most hospitals, while a few specific hospitals will need to comply starting January 1, 2026. This change matters because it gives certain facilities additional time to prepare for the new requirements aimed at improving safety protocols related to surgical practices.
2025-2026 Bill 170 Text of Previous Version (Mar.(Jan.
11,14, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 170Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicatesl Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Marchbill 11, 2025TO AMEND S.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-387 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LICENSED FACILITY TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SURGICAL SMOKE BY REQURING THE USE OF A SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM.
170 Introduced by Senators Hembree, Kimbrell, Stubbs, Matthews, Garrett, Adams, Graham and Zell S.
Printed 3/11/25--S.
Read the first time January 14, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Medical Affairs To whom was referred a Bill (S.
170) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 44-7-387 so as to require a licensed facility to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 2, by striking the undesignated paragraph and inserting:
SECTION 2. This act takes effect on July 1, 2026, except that for the following hospitals this act takes effect January 1, 2027:
(1) hospitals certified as critical access hospitals pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
Section 1395i-4;
(2) hospitals with fewer than twenty five fifty acute care beds in operation;
(3) hospitals certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as sole community hospitals;
and (4) hospitals that qualify as a Medicare dependent hospital;
and (5) hospitals with six or fewer operating rooms.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
DANIEL VERDIN for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-387 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LICENSED FACILITY TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SURGICAL SMOKE BY REQURING THE USE OF A SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on MarchJanuary 11,14, 2025 at 06:4312:29 PM
Action History
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Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
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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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Scrivener's error corrected
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Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Committee Amendment Adopted
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs
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Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Senator Greg Hembree · Primary
- Senator Josh Kimbrell · Primary
- Senator Everett Stubbs · Primary
- Senator Billy Garrett · Primary
- Senator Brian Adams · Primary
- Senator Jeffrey R. Graham · Primary
- Senator Jeff Zell · Primary
- Senator Margie Bright Matthews · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →8 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 162 not signed on
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (162)
162 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 162 →"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 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 41 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (46)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 170 do?
- A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-387 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LICENSED FACILITY TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SURGICAL SMOKE BY REQURING THE USE OF A SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM.
- Who sponsors S 170?
- S 170 is sponsored by Senator Greg Hembree, Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Everett Stubbs, Senator Billy Garrett, Senator Brian Adams, Senator Jeffrey R. Graham, Senator Jeff Zell, and Senator Margie Bright Matthews.
- What is the current status of S 170?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 14, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track S 170?
- Track S 170 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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