SC H 4755

passed one chamber

Judicial Selection Reform

South Carolina · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Description

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.

Introduced: 2026-01-13
Status date: —
Latest action: 2026-02-12 — Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Bill type: bill
Last updated: —

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

2025-12-16
Prefiled
filing
2025-12-16
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
referral-committee
2026-01-13
Introduced and read first time
introduction,reading-1
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
referral-committee
2026-01-14
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ford
2026-01-21
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger, Wickensimer
2026-02-05
Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
committee-passage-favorable
2026-02-10
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers
2026-02-10
Scrivener's error corrected
2026-02-10
Requests for debate-Rep(s). B Newton, Hewitt, Cox, Lawson, McCravy, Long, White, Edgerton, Magnuson, Hixon, Taylor, Hartz, Cromer
2026-02-11
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: D.Mitchell, Gilreath
2026-02-11
Amended
amendment-passage
2026-02-11
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-11
Roll call Yeas-86 Nays-25
2026-02-12
Read third time and sent to Senate
passage,reading-3
2026-02-12
Roll call Yeas-71 Nays-10
2026-02-12
Introduced and read first time
introduction,reading-1
2026-02-12
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
referral-committee

Versions

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Documents

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Votes

Passage of Bill
2026-02-11 · pass · 86-25
Member-level votes (123)
- Atkinson, Lucas: yes
- Bailey, William H.: yes
- Ballentine, Nathan: yes
- Bannister, Bruce W.: yes
- Bauer, Heather: yes
- Beach, Thomas: yes
- Bowers, Phillip: yes
- Bradley, Jeff: yes
- Brewer, Gary S., Jr.: yes
- Brittain, Thomas C., Jr.: yes
- Burns, James Mikell: yes
- Bustos, Joseph M.: yes
- Calhoon, Paula Rawl: yes
- Caskey, Micajah P., IV: yes
- Chapman, Donald G.: yes
- Collins, Neal A.: yes
- Cox, Brandon L.: yes
- Crawford, Heather Ammons: yes
- Cromer, April: yes
- Davis, Sylleste H.: yes
- Duncan, Adam L.: yes
- Edgerton, Sarita L.: yes
- Erickson, Shannon S.: yes
- Ford, Greg: yes
- Forrest, Cally R., Jr.: yes
- Frank, Stephen: yes
- Gagnon, Craig A.: yes
- Gatch, Gil: yes
- Gilliam, Leon D.: yes
- Gilreath, Thomas Lee: yes
- Guest, Thomas Duval, Jr.: yes
- Guffey, Brandon: yes
- Haddon, Patrick B.: yes
- Hager, William: yes
- Hardee, Kevin: yes
- Harris, Robert J.: yes
- Hartnett, Thomas F., Jr.: yes
- Hartz, Charles V.: yes
- Hayes, Jackie E.: yes
- Herbkersman, William G.: yes
- Hewitt, Lee: yes
- Hiott, David R.: yes
- Hixon, William M.: yes
- Holman, Harriet A.: yes
- Huff, William C.: yes
- Jordan, Wallace H., Jr.: yes
- Kilmartin, John Gregory: yes
- King, John Richard C.: yes
- Landing, Kathy: yes
- Lastinger, John T., Jr.: yes
- Lawson, M. Brian: yes
- Ligon, Thomas R.: yes
- Long, Steven Wayne: yes
- Magnuson, Josiah: yes
- Martin, David: yes
- McCabe, Donald Ryan, Jr.: yes
- McCravy, John R., III: yes
- McDaniel, Annie E.: yes
- McGinnis, Timothy A.: yes
- Mitchell, Cody T.: yes
- Mitchell, Dianne: yes
- Morgan, T. Alan, Jr.: yes
- Moss, Dennis C.: yes
- Neese, Mike M.: yes
- Newton, Brandon: yes
- Newton, Wm. Weston J.: yes
- Oremus, Melissa Lackey: yes
- Pace, Jordan S.: yes
- Pedalino, Fawn M.: yes
- Pope, Thomas E.: yes
- Rankin, Luke S.: yes
- Robbins, Robby: yes
- Sanders, Richard Blake: yes
- Schuessler, Carla: yes
- Sessions, Heath: yes
- Smith, G. Murrell, Jr.: yes
- Smith, Marvin: yes
- Taylor, Bill: yes
- Teeple, James E.: yes
- Terribile, Jackie R.: yes
- Vaughan, David: yes
- White, Joseph S.: yes
- Whitmire, William R.: yes
- Wickensimer, Paul B.: yes
- Willis, Mark N.: yes
- Yow, Richard L.: yes
- Alexander, Terry: no
- Anderson, Carl L.: no
- Bamberg, Justin T.: no
- Bernstein, Beth E.: no
- Dillard, Chandra E.: no
- Garvin, Kambrell H.: no
- Gilliard, Wendell G.: no
- Grant, Hamilton R.: no
- Hart, Christopher R.: no
- Henderson-Myers,, Rosalyn D., Ph.D. Hosey, Lonnie: no
- Howard, Leon: no
- Jones, Wendell K.: no
- Kirby, Roger K.: no
- Luck, Jason S.: no
- Moore, JA: no
- Reese, Robert T.: no
- Rivers, Michael F., Sr.: no
- Rose, Seth: no
- Rutherford, J. Todd: no
- Scott, Keishan M.: no
- Stavrinakis, Leonidas E.: no
- Weeks, J. David: no
- Wetmore, Elizabeth: no
- Williams, Robert Q.: no
- Clyburn, William: excused
- Cobb-Hunter, Gilda: excused
- Moore, Travis A.: excused
- Spann-Wilder, Tiffany: excused
- Waters, Courtney S.: excused
- Govan, Jerry N., Jr.: excused
- Chumley, William M.: excused
- Gibson, Daniel: excused
- Johnson, Jeffrey E.: excused
- Johnson, Jermaine L., Sr.: excused
- Lowe, Phillip D.: excused
- Montgomery, W. Scott, IV: excused
- Wooten, Chris: excused
Table Motion to Adjourn Debate
2026-02-11 · pass · 84-32
Member-level votes (123)
- Bailey, William H.: yes
- Ballentine, Nathan: yes
- Bannister, Bruce W.: yes
- Beach, Thomas: yes
- Bowers, Phillip: yes
- Bradley, Jeff: yes
- Brewer, Gary S., Jr.: yes
- Brittain, Thomas C., Jr.: yes
- Burns, James Mikell: yes
- Bustos, Joseph M.: yes
- Calhoon, Paula Rawl: yes
- Caskey, Micajah P., IV: yes
- Chapman, Donald G.: yes
- Chumley, William M.: yes
- Collins, Neal A.: yes
- Cox, Brandon L.: yes
- Crawford, Heather Ammons: yes
- Davis, Sylleste H.: yes
- Duncan, Adam L.: yes
- Edgerton, Sarita L.: yes
- Erickson, Shannon S.: yes
- Ford, Greg: yes
- Forrest, Cally R., Jr.: yes
- Frank, Stephen: yes
- Gagnon, Craig A.: yes
- Gatch, Gil: yes
- Gibson, Daniel: yes
- Gilreath, Thomas Lee: yes
- Guest, Thomas Duval, Jr.: yes
- Guffey, Brandon: yes
- Haddon, Patrick B.: yes
- Hager, William: yes
- Hardee, Kevin: yes
- Harris, Robert J.: yes
- Hartnett, Thomas F., Jr.: yes
- Hartz, Charles V.: yes
- Herbkersman, William G.: yes
- Hewitt, Lee: yes
- Hiott, David R.: yes
- Hixon, William M.: yes
- Holman, Harriet A.: yes
- Huff, William C.: yes
- Johnson, Jeffrey E.: yes
- Jordan, Wallace H., Jr.: yes
- Kilmartin, John Gregory: yes
- Landing, Kathy: yes
- Lastinger, John T., Jr.: yes
- Lawson, M. Brian: yes
- Ligon, Thomas R.: yes
- Long, Steven Wayne: yes
- Lowe, Phillip D.: yes
- Magnuson, Josiah: yes
- Martin, David: yes
- McCravy, John R., III: yes
- McGinnis, Timothy A.: yes
- Mitchell, Cody T.: yes
- Mitchell, Dianne: yes
- Montgomery, W. Scott, IV: yes
- Morgan, T. Alan, Jr.: yes
- Moss, Dennis C.: yes
- Neese, Mike M.: yes
- Newton, Brandon: yes
- Newton, Wm. Weston J.: yes
- Oremus, Melissa Lackey: yes
- Pace, Jordan S.: yes
- Pedalino, Fawn M.: yes
- Pope, Thomas E.: yes
- Rankin, Luke S.: yes
- Robbins, Robby: yes
- Sanders, Richard Blake: yes
- Schuessler, Carla: yes
- Sessions, Heath: yes
- Smith, G. Murrell, Jr.: yes
- Smith, Marvin: yes
- Taylor, Bill: yes
- Teeple, James E.: yes
- Terribile, Jackie R.: yes
- Vaughan, David: yes
- White, Joseph S.: yes
- Whitmire, William R.: yes
- Wickensimer, Paul B.: yes
- Willis, Mark N.: yes
- Wooten, Chris: yes
- Yow, Richard L.: yes
- Alexander, Terry: no
- Anderson, Carl L.: no
- Atkinson, Lucas: no
- Bamberg, Justin T.: no
- Bernstein, Beth E.: no
- Cromer, April: no
- Dillard, Chandra E.: no
- Garvin, Kambrell H.: no
- Gilliard, Wendell G.: no
- Govan, Jerry N., Jr.: no
- Grant, Hamilton R.: no
- Hart, Christopher R.: no
- Hayes, Jackie E.: no
- Henderson-Myers,, Rosalyn D., Ph.D. Hosey, Lonnie: no
- Howard, Leon: no
- Johnson, Jermaine L., Sr.: no
- Jones, Wendell K.: no
- King, John Richard C.: no
- Kirby, Roger K.: no
- Luck, Jason S.: no
- McDaniel, Annie E.: no
- Moore, JA: no
- Reese, Robert T.: no
- Rivers, Michael F., Sr.: no
- Rose, Seth: no
- Rutherford, J. Todd: no
- Scott, Keishan M.: no
- Stavrinakis, Leonidas E.: no
- Weeks, J. David: no
- Wetmore, Elizabeth: no
- Williams, Robert Q.: no
- Clyburn, William: excused
- Cobb-Hunter, Gilda: excused
- Moore, Travis A.: excused
- Spann-Wilder, Tiffany: excused
- Waters, Courtney S.: excused
- Bauer, Heather: excused
- Gilliam, Leon D.: excused
- McCabe, Donald Ryan, Jr.: excused
Table Amendment 4
2026-02-11 · pass · 85-27
Member-level votes (123)
- Bailey, William H.: yes
- Ballentine, Nathan: yes
- Bannister, Bruce W.: yes
- Bauer, Heather: yes
- Beach, Thomas: yes
- Bowers, Phillip: yes
- Bradley, Jeff: yes
- Brewer, Gary S., Jr.: yes
- Brittain, Thomas C., Jr.: yes
- Burns, James Mikell: yes
- Bustos, Joseph M.: yes
- Calhoon, Paula Rawl: yes
- Caskey, Micajah P., IV: yes
- Chapman, Donald G.: yes
- Chumley, William M.: yes
- Cox, Brandon L.: yes
- Crawford, Heather Ammons: yes
- Cromer, April: yes
- Davis, Sylleste H.: yes
- Duncan, Adam L.: yes
- Edgerton, Sarita L.: yes
- Erickson, Shannon S.: yes
- Ford, Greg: yes
- Forrest, Cally R., Jr.: yes
- Frank, Stephen: yes
- Gagnon, Craig A.: yes
- Gatch, Gil: yes
- Gibson, Daniel: yes
- Gilreath, Thomas Lee: yes
- Guest, Thomas Duval, Jr.: yes
- Guffey, Brandon: yes
- Haddon, Patrick B.: yes
- Hager, William: yes
- Hardee, Kevin: yes
- Harris, Robert J.: yes
- Hartnett, Thomas F., Jr.: yes
- Hartz, Charles V.: yes
- Herbkersman, William G.: yes
- Hewitt, Lee: yes
- Hiott, David R.: yes
- Hixon, William M.: yes
- Holman, Harriet A.: yes
- Huff, William C.: yes
- Johnson, Jeffrey E.: yes
- Jordan, Wallace H., Jr.: yes
- Kilmartin, John Gregory: yes
- Landing, Kathy: yes
- Lastinger, John T., Jr.: yes
- Lawson, M. Brian: yes
- Ligon, Thomas R.: yes
- Long, Steven Wayne: yes
- Lowe, Phillip D.: yes
- Magnuson, Josiah: yes
- Martin, David: yes
- McCabe, Donald Ryan, Jr.: yes
- McCravy, John R., III: yes
- McGinnis, Timothy A.: yes
- Mitchell, Cody T.: yes
- Mitchell, Dianne: yes
- Morgan, T. Alan, Jr.: yes
- Moss, Dennis C.: yes
- Neese, Mike M.: yes
- Newton, Brandon: yes
- Newton, Wm. Weston J.: yes
- Oremus, Melissa Lackey: yes
- Pace, Jordan S.: yes
- Pedalino, Fawn M.: yes
- Pope, Thomas E.: yes
- Rankin, Luke S.: yes
- Robbins, Robby: yes
- Sanders, Richard Blake: yes
- Schuessler, Carla: yes
- Sessions, Heath: yes
- Smith, G. Murrell, Jr.: yes
- Smith, Marvin: yes
- Taylor, Bill: yes
- Teeple, James E.: yes
- Terribile, Jackie R.: yes
- Vaughan, David: yes
- White, Joseph S.: yes
- Whitmire, William R.: yes
- Wickensimer, Paul B.: yes
- Willis, Mark N.: yes
- Wooten, Chris: yes
- Yow, Richard L.: yes
- Alexander, Terry: no
- Anderson, Carl L.: no
- Atkinson, Lucas: no
- Bamberg, Justin T.: no
- Bernstein, Beth E.: no
- Dillard, Chandra E.: no
- Garvin, Kambrell H.: no
- Gilliard, Wendell G.: no
- Grant, Hamilton R.: no
- Hayes, Jackie E.: no
- Henderson-Myers,, Rosalyn D., Ph.D. Hosey, Lonnie: no
- Howard, Leon: no
- Johnson, Jermaine L., Sr.: no
- Jones, Wendell K.: no
- King, John Richard C.: no
- Kirby, Roger K.: no
- Luck, Jason S.: no
- Reese, Robert T.: no
- Rivers, Michael F., Sr.: no
- Rose, Seth: no
- Rutherford, J. Todd: no
- Scott, Keishan M.: no
- Stavrinakis, Leonidas E.: no
- Weeks, J. David: no
- Wetmore, Elizabeth: no
- Williams, Robert Q.: no
- Clyburn, William: excused
- Cobb-Hunter, Gilda: excused
- Moore, Travis A.: excused
- Spann-Wilder, Tiffany: excused
- Waters, Courtney S.: excused
- Govan, Jerry N., Jr.: excused
- Collins, Neal A.: excused
- Gilliam, Leon D.: excused
- Hart, Christopher R.: excused
- McDaniel, Annie E.: excused
- Montgomery, W. Scott, IV: excused
- Moore, JA: excused
Passage of Bill
2026-02-12 · pass · 71-10
Member-level votes (124)
- Atkinson, Lucas: yes
- Bailey, William H.: yes
- Ballentine, Nathan: yes
- Bauer, Heather: yes
- Beach, Thomas: yes
- Bowers, Phillip: yes
- Bradley, Jeff: yes
- Brewer, Gary S., Jr.: yes
- Burns, James Mikell: yes
- Bustos, Joseph M.: yes
- Calhoon, Paula Rawl: yes
- Caskey, Micajah P., IV: yes
- Chapman, Donald G.: yes
- Chumley, William M.: yes
- Cox, Brandon L.: yes
- Crawford, Heather Ammons: yes
- Cromer, April: yes
- Davis, Sylleste H.: yes
- Duncan, Adam L.: yes
- Edgerton, Sarita L.: yes
- Erickson, Shannon S.: yes
- Ford, Greg: yes
- Frank, Stephen: yes
- Gagnon, Craig A.: yes
- Gibson, Daniel: yes
- Gilliam, Leon D.: yes
- Gilreath, Thomas Lee: yes
- Guffey, Brandon: yes
- Haddon, Patrick B.: yes
- Hager, William: yes
- Harris, Robert J.: yes
- Hartnett, Thomas F., Jr.: yes
- Herbkersman, William G.: yes
- Hewitt, Lee: yes
- Hiott, David R.: yes
- Hixon, William M.: yes
- Holman, Harriet A.: yes
- Huff, William C.: yes
- Landing, Kathy: yes
- Lastinger, John T., Jr.: yes
- Lawson, M. Brian: yes
- Ligon, Thomas R.: yes
- Long, Steven Wayne: yes
- Magnuson, Josiah: yes
- Martin, David: yes
- McCabe, Donald Ryan, Jr.: yes
- McCravy, John R., III: yes
- Mitchell, Cody T.: yes
- Mitchell, Dianne: yes
- Montgomery, W. Scott, IV: yes
- Morgan, T. Alan, Jr.: yes
- Moss, Dennis C.: yes
- Neese, Mike M.: yes
- Newton, Brandon: yes
- Pace, Jordan S.: yes
- Pedalino, Fawn M.: yes
- Pope, Thomas E.: yes
- Rankin, Luke S.: yes
- Robbins, Robby: yes
- Sanders, Richard Blake: yes
- Schuessler, Carla: yes
- Smith, G. Murrell, Jr.: yes
- Smith, Marvin: yes
- Taylor, Bill: yes
- Terribile, Jackie R.: yes
- White, Joseph S.: yes
- Whitmire, William R.: yes
- Wickensimer, Paul B.: yes
- Willis, Mark N.: yes
- Wooten, Chris: yes
- Yow, Richard L.: yes
- Alexander, Terry: no
- Bamberg, Justin T.: no
- Bernstein, Beth E.: no
- Howard, Leon: no
- King, John Richard C.: no
- Kirby, Roger K.: no
- Luck, Jason S.: no
- McDaniel, Annie E.: no
- Moore, JA: no
- Rose, Seth: no
- Clyburn, William: excused
- Kilmartin, John Gregory: excused
- Moore, Travis A.: excused
- Newton, Wm. Weston J.: excused
- Reese, Robert T.: excused
- Spann-Wilder, Tiffany: excused
- Anderson, Carl L.: excused
- Bannister, Bruce W.: excused
- Brittain, Thomas C., Jr.: excused
- Cobb-Hunter, Gilda: excused
- Collins, Neal A.: excused
- Dillard, Chandra E.: excused
- Forrest, Cally R., Jr.: excused
- Garvin, Kambrell H.: excused
- Gatch, Gil: excused
- Gilliard, Wendell G.: excused
- Govan, Jerry N., Jr.: excused
- Grant, Hamilton R.: excused
- Guest, Thomas Duval, Jr.: excused
- Hardee, Kevin: excused
- Hart, Christopher R.: excused
- Hartz, Charles V.: excused
- Hayes, Jackie E.: excused
- Henderson-Myers,, Rosalyn D., Ph.D.: excused
- Hosey, Lonnie: excused
- Johnson, Jeffrey E.: excused
- Johnson, Jermaine L., Sr.: excused
- Jones, Wendell K.: excused
- Jordan, Wallace H., Jr.: excused
- Lowe, Phillip D.: excused
- McGinnis, Timothy A.: excused
- Oremus, Melissa Lackey: excused
- Rivers, Michael F., Sr.: excused
- Rutherford, J. Todd: excused
- Scott, Keishan M.: excused
- Sessions, Heath: excused
- Stavrinakis, Leonidas E.: excused
- Teeple, James E.: excused
- Vaughan, David: excused
- Waters, Courtney S.: excused
- Weeks, J. David: excused
- Wetmore, Elizabeth: excused
- Williams, Robert Q.: excused

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4755&session=126&summary=B

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