South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee

S 746 — Assault and Battery Third Degree, graduated penalties

Last action — Referred to Committee on Judiciary

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 14% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

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 SECTION 16-3-600, RELATING TO ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR GRADUATED PENALTIES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED A SECOND TIME OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY IN THE THIRD DEGREE IF THE PERSON HAS PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR ANY ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

56 added · 6 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill S 746 introduces graduated penalties for repeat offenders of third-degree assault and battery in South Carolina. If someone is convicted a second time and has prior convictions for any assault and battery offenses, they now face increased fines and potential jail time—up to $750 in fines and 60 days in jail. This change is significant because it aims to deter repeat violent behavior by imposing stricter consequences on those who continue to commit similar offenses, thereby enhancing public safety.

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2025-2026 Bill 746 Text of Previous Version (Dec.
10, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 746Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)                 A bill   TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-600, RELATING TO ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR GRADUATED PENALTIES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED A SECOND TIME OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY IN THE THIRD DEGREE IF THE PERSON HAS PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR ANY ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES.
  Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
  SECTION 1.  Section 16-3-600(E) of the S.C.
Code is amended to read:
      (E)(1) A person commits the offense of assault and battery in the third degree if the person unlawfully injures another person, or offers or attempts to injure another person with the present ability to do so.
       (2) A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.
       (3) A person who violates the provisions of this subsection a second time when he has a prior conviction for any assault and battery offense pursuant to the provisions of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more seven hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than sixty days.
       (4) A person who violates the provisions of this subsection a third or subsequent time when he has a prior conviction for any assault and battery offense pursuant to the provisions of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days.
       (5) Notwithstanding Sections 22-3-540, 22-3-545, and 22-3-550, an offense pursuant to the provisions of this subsection is triable in magistrates court.
A prior conviction for purposes of this subsection is defined as a conviction within five years of the date of commission of the current offense.
       (3)(6) Assault and battery in the third degree is a lesser-included offense of assault and battery in the second degree, as defined in subsection (D)(1), assault and battery in the first degree, as defined in subsection (C)(1), assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, as defined in subsection (B)(1), and attempted murder, as defined in Section 16-3-29.
  SECTION 2.  The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide.
After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.
  SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on December 10, 2025 at 02:29 PM
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Action History

  1. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

  2. Introduced and read first time

  3. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

  4. Prefiled

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 169 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (169)

169 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 S 746 do?
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-600, RELATING TO ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR GRADUATED PENALTIES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED A SECOND TIME OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY IN THE THIRD DEGREE IF THE PERSON HAS PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR ANY ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES.
Who sponsors S 746?
S 746 is sponsored by Senator Russell L. Ott.
What is the current status of S 746?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 746?
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