South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee

S 23 — Sex Offender Registry

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 11, 2024. 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 23-3-436, RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT JUVENILES UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE MUST NOT BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-490(E), RELATING TO PUBLIC INSPECTION OF OFFENDER REGISTRY, SO AS TO REVISE THE LIST OF OFFENSES FOR WHICH JUVENILES ARE ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON THE JUVENILES BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

Bill Text

  • 12/11/2024 View text html
  • 12/11/2024-A View text Current html
  • Introduced Filed vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document

How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing laws to exempt juveniles under fourteen from sex offender registration and alters the conditions under which information about certain juvenile offenders is made publicly available.

  • Section 23-3-436

    A child under fourteen years of age must not be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the provisions of this article. → A child who is twelve years of age but less than fourteen years of age must not be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the provisions of this article.

    The amendment clarifies that only children aged twelve and older are exempt from registration requirements.

  • Section 23-3-436

    who has been adjudicated delinquent by a family court in this State for any Tier III offense may be required to register in the discretion of the Family Court.

    This removes the provision for children under fourteen regarding the possibility of being required to register for Tier III offenses.

  • Section 23-3-490(E)

    information on a person juvenile adjudicated delinquent in family court for an offense listed in Section 23-3-436, and who is required to register under this article, must not be made available to the public in accordance with the following provisions:, except as provided in items (2) and (3). → For purposes of this article, information on a juvenile adjudicated delinquent in family court for an offense listed in Section 23-3-436, and who is required to register under this article, must not be made available to the public except as provided in items (2) and (3).

    The change simplifies and clarifies the language regarding the confidentiality of juvenile offender information prior to public availability.

  • Section 23-3-490(E)

    (1)(2) If a person juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for committing a Tier III offense, any of the following offenses, then information must be made available to the public pursuant to subsections (A), (B), and (C). → (2) If a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for committing a Tier III offense, any of the following offenses, then information must be made available to the public pursuant to subsections (A), (B), and (C).

    This modifies the wording for clarity, ensuring that references to juvenile offenders are consistent.

  • Section 23-3-490(E)

    If a person juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for committing a Tier III offense, any of the following offenses, then information must be made available to the public pursuant to subsections (A), (B), and (C). → If a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for committing a Tier III offense, any of the following offenses, then information must be made available to the public pursuant to subsections (A), (B), and (C).

    This amendment updates the terminology from 'person juvenile' to simply 'juvenile' for improved clarity.

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

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 23 do?
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-436, RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT JUVENILES UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE MUST NOT BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 23-3-490(E), RELATING TO PUBLIC INSPECTION OF OFFENDER REGISTRY, SO AS TO REVISE THE LIST OF OFFENSES FOR WHICH JUVENILES ARE ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON THE JUVENILES BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
Who sponsors S 23?
S 23 is sponsored by Senator Brad Hutto.
What is the current status of S 23?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 11, 2024. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 23?
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