Bill Commons

SC S 2

enacted

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

South Carolina · 2026 Regular Session · upper

Follow this bill’s action updates (Atom)

Subscribe in a feed reader. The feed covers recorded actions from the last 30 days; Bill Commons may record an action after it happened at the legislature.

Quick answers

Did SC S 2 pass?

Yes. SC S 2 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2025-05-07): Act No. 3

What is SC S 2 about?

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 12 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COMPRISED OF THE OFFICE OF INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND AUTHORITY; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-30-10, RELATING TO DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO ADD THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND TO REMOVE THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-370, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE STATE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, SO AS TO EXEMPT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND CERTAIN OTHER DEPARTMENT STAFF FROM THE STATE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-20-30, 44-20-210, 44-20-220, 44-20-230, 44-20-240, AND 44-20-255, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO INCLUDE DEFINITION REVISIONS, ELIMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMISSION, RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT AS THE OFFICE OF INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND REASSIGNMENT OF THE COMMISSION'S DUTIES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-49-10 AND 44-49-20, BOTH RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE SERVICES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES BY RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT AS THE OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-9-10, 44-9-20, AND 44-9-30, ALL RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO INCLUDE RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT AS THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, ESTABLISHING QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, AND ELIMINATING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH'S COMMISSION AND REASSIGNING THE COMMISSION'S DUTIES; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-150 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A PLAN TO ENSURE SERVICES AND SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ADMINISTRATOR OF COMMUNITY LIVING INTEGRATION AND A HEALTH PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-21-80, RELATING TO REGIONAL TERTIARY LEVEL DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION CENTERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THE CENTERS PROVIDE NEURODEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION AND LIMITED TREATMENT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS UP TO TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE CERTAIN SUSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS; BY REPEALING SECTIONS 44-9-40 AND 44-9-50 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALH; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. - RATIFIED TITLE

Who sponsors SC S 2?

Peeler, Alexander, Davis and 5 others are the primary sponsors of SC S 2.

Description

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 12 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COMPRISED OF THE OFFICE OF INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND AUTHORITY; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-30-10, RELATING TO DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO ADD THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND TO REMOVE THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-370, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE STATE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, SO AS TO EXEMPT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND CERTAIN OTHER DEPARTMENT STAFF FROM THE STATE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-20-30, 44-20-210, 44-20-220, 44-20-230, 44-20-240, AND 44-20-255, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO INCLUDE DEFINITION REVISIONS, ELIMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMISSION, RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT AS THE OFFICE OF INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND REASSIGNMENT OF THE COMMISSION'S DUTIES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-49-10 AND 44-49-20, BOTH RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE SERVICES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES BY RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT AS THE OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 44-9-10, 44-9-20, AND 44-9-30, ALL RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO INCLUDE RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT AS THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, ESTABLISHING QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, AND ELIMINATING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH'S COMMISSION AND REASSIGNING THE COMMISSION'S DUTIES; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-150 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A PLAN TO ENSURE SERVICES AND SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ADMINISTRATOR OF COMMUNITY LIVING INTEGRATION AND A HEALTH PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-21-80, RELATING TO REGIONAL TERTIARY LEVEL DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION CENTERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THE CENTERS PROVIDE NEURODEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION AND LIMITED TREATMENT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS UP TO TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE CERTAIN SUSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS; BY REPEALING SECTIONS 44-9-40 AND 44-9-50 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALH; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. - RATIFIED TITLE

Introduced
2025-01-14
Latest action
2025-05-07 — Act No. 3
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Peelerprimary
  • Alexanderprimary
  • Davisprimary
  • Devineprimary
  • Garrettprimary
  • Turnerprimary
  • Jacksonprimary
  • Suttonprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2025-05-07

    Act No. 3

  2. 2025-05-07

    Effective date 04/28/25

  3. 2025-04-28

    Signed By Governor

    executive-signature

  4. 2025-04-24

    Ratified R 10

  5. 2025-04-16

    Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-2

  6. 2025-04-16

    Concurred in House amendment and enrolled

  7. 2025-04-10

    Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments

    passage,reading-3

  8. 2025-04-09

    Roll call Yeas-99 Nays-0

  9. 2025-04-09

    Read second time

    reading-2

  10. 2025-04-09

    Amended

    amendment-passage

  11. 2025-04-08

    Scrivener's error corrected

  12. 2025-04-03

    Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

    committee-passage-favorable

  13. 2025-03-05

    Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

    referral-committee

  14. 2025-03-05

    Introduced and read first time

    introduction,reading-1

  15. 2025-02-27

    Read third time and sent to House

    passage,reading-3

  16. 2025-02-27

    Scrivener's error corrected

  17. 2025-02-26

    Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-2

  18. 2025-02-26

    Read second time

    reading-2

  19. 2025-02-26

    Committee Amendment Adopted

    amendment-passage

  20. 2025-02-25

    Scrivener's error corrected

  21. 2025-02-20

    Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs

    committee-passage-favorable

  22. 2025-01-21

    Scrivener's error corrected

  23. 2025-01-15

    Scrivener's error corrected

  24. 2025-01-14

    Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs

    referral-committee

  25. 2025-01-14

    Introduced and read first time

    introduction,reading-1

  26. 2024-12-11

    Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs

    referral-committee

  27. 2024-12-11

    Prefiled

    filing

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • 2nd Reading

    2025-02-26 · pass · 42-2

    Member-level votes (46)
    • Adams, Brian: yes
    • Alexander, Thomas C.: yes
    • Allen, Karl B.: yes
    • Bennett, Sean M.: yes
    • Blackmon, Allen: yes
    • Cash, Richard J.: yes
    • Chaplin, JD: yes
    • Climer, Wes: yes
    • Cromer, Ronnie W.: yes
    • Davis, Tom: yes
    • Devine, Tameika Isaac: yes
    • Elliott, Jason: yes
    • Fernandez, Tom: yes
    • Gambrell, Michael W.: yes
    • Garrett, Billy: yes
    • Goldfinch, Stephen L.: yes
    • Graham, Jeffrey R.: yes
    • Grooms, Lawrence K.: yes
    • Hembree, Greg: yes
    • Jackson, Darrell: yes
    • Johnson, Michael: yes
    • Kennedy, Carlisle: yes
    • Kimbrell, Josh: yes
    • Leber, Matthew W.: yes
    • Massey, A. Shane: yes
    • Matthews, Margie Bright: yes
    • Nutt, Roger A.: yes
    • Ott, Russell L.: yes
    • Peeler, Harvey S., Jr.: yes
    • Rankin, Luke A.: yes
    • Reichenbach, Mike: yes
    • Rice, Rex F.: yes
    • Sabb, Ronnie A.: yes
    • Stubbs, Everett: yes
    • Sutton, Ed: yes
    • Tedder, Deon T.: yes
    • Turner, Ross: yes
    • Verdin, Daniel B., III: yes
    • Walker, Overture: yes
    • Williams, Kent M.: yes
    • Young, Tom, Jr.: yes
    • Zell, Jeff: yes
    • Corbin, Thomas D.: no
    • Martin, Shane R.: no
    • Campsen, George E., III: excused
    • Hutto, Brad: excused

  • Passage of Bill

    2025-04-09 · pass · 99-0

    Member-level votes (122)
    • Atkinson, Lucas: yes
    • Ballentine, Nathan: yes
    • Bauer, Heather: yes
    • Bernstein, Beth E.: yes
    • Bowers, Phillip: 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
    • Clyburn, William: yes
    • Cobb-Hunter, Gilda: yes
    • Collins, Neal A.: yes
    • Cox, Bobby J.: yes
    • Cox, Brandon L.: yes
    • Crawford, Heather Ammons: yes
    • Cromer, April: yes
    • Davis, Sylleste H.: yes
    • Dillard, Chandra E.: yes
    • Duncan, Adam L.: yes
    • Edgerton, Sarita L.: yes
    • Erickson, Shannon S.: yes
    • Forrest, Cally R., Jr.: yes
    • Gagnon, Craig A.: yes
    • Garvin, Kambrell H.: yes
    • Gibson, Daniel: yes
    • Gilliam, Leon D.: yes
    • Gilliard, Wendell G.: yes
    • Gilreath, Thomas Lee: yes
    • Govan, Jerry N., Jr.: yes
    • Grant, Hamilton R.: 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
    • Henderson-Myers,, Rosalyn D., Ph.D. Herbkersman, William G.: yes
    • Hewitt, Lee: yes
    • Hiott, David R.: yes
    • Holman, Harriet A.: yes
    • Hosey, Lonnie: yes
    • Huff, William C.: yes
    • Johnson, Jeffrey E.: yes
    • Johnson, Jermaine L., Sr.: yes
    • Jones, Wendell K.: yes
    • Jordan, Wallace H., Jr.: yes
    • King, John Richard C.: yes
    • Kirby, Roger K.: yes
    • Landing, Kathy: yes
    • Lawson, M. Brian: yes
    • Ligon, Thomas R.: yes
    • Long, Steven Wayne: yes
    • Lowe, Phillip D.: yes
    • Luck, Jason S.: yes
    • Magnuson, Josiah: yes
    • Martin, David: yes
    • May, Robert J., III: yes
    • McCabe, Donald Ryan, Jr.: yes
    • McCravy, John R., III: yes
    • McDaniel, Annie E.: yes
    • McGinnis, Timothy A.: yes
    • Mitchell, Cody T.: 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
    • Reese, Robert T.: yes
    • Rivers, Michael F., Sr.: yes
    • Robbins, Robby: yes
    • Rose, Seth: yes
    • Sanders, Richard Blake: yes
    • Smith, G. Murrell, Jr.: yes
    • Smith, Marvin: yes
    • Stavrinakis, Leonidas E.: yes
    • Taylor, Bill: yes
    • Teeple, James E.: yes
    • Terribile, Jackie R.: yes
    • Waters, Courtney S.: yes
    • Weeks, J. David: yes
    • Wetmore, Elizabeth: yes
    • Whitmire, William R.: yes
    • Wickensimer, Paul B.: yes
    • Willis, Mark N.: yes
    • Wooten, Chris: yes
    • Yow, Richard L.: yes
    • Gatch, Gil: excused
    • Hixon, William M.: excused
    • Moore, Travis A.: excused
    • Murphy, Chris: excused
    • Schuessler, Carla: excused
    • Spann-Wilder, Tiffany: excused
    • Alexander, Terry: excused
    • Anderson, Carl L.: excused
    • Bailey, William H.: excused
    • Bamberg, Justin T.: excused
    • Bannister, Bruce W.: excused
    • Beach, Thomas: excused
    • Bradley, Jeff: excused
    • Frank, Stephen: excused
    • Hart, Christopher R.: excused
    • Howard, Leon: excused
    • Kilmartin, John Gregory: excused
    • Montgomery, W. Scott, IV: excused
    • Moore, JA: excused
    • Rutherford, J. Todd: excused
    • Sessions, Heath: excused
    • Vaughan, David: excused
    • White, Joseph S.: excused
    • Williams, Robert Q.: excused

  • to concur

    2025-04-16 · pass · 40-2

    Member-level votes (44)
    • Adams, Brian: yes
    • Alexander, Thomas C.: yes
    • Allen, Karl B.: yes
    • Bennett, Sean M.: yes
    • Blackmon, Allen: yes
    • Campsen, George E., III: yes
    • Cash, Richard J.: yes
    • Chaplin, JD: yes
    • Climer, Wes: yes
    • Cromer, Ronnie W.: yes
    • Davis, Tom: yes
    • Devine, Tameika Isaac: yes
    • Elliott, Jason: yes
    • Garrett, Billy: yes
    • Graham, Jeffrey R.: yes
    • Grooms, Lawrence K.: yes
    • Hembree, Greg: yes
    • Hutto, Brad: yes
    • Jackson, Darrell: yes
    • Johnson, Michael: yes
    • Kennedy, Carlisle: yes
    • Kimbrell, Josh: yes
    • Leber, Matthew W.: yes
    • Massey, A. Shane: yes
    • Nutt, Roger A.: yes
    • Ott, Russell L.: yes
    • Peeler, Harvey S., Jr.: yes
    • Rankin, Luke A.: yes
    • Reichenbach, Mike: yes
    • Rice, Rex F.: yes
    • Sabb, Ronnie A.: yes
    • Stubbs, Everett: yes
    • Sutton, Ed: yes
    • Tedder, Deon T.: yes
    • Turner, Ross: yes
    • Verdin, Daniel B., III: yes
    • Walker, Overture: yes
    • Williams, Kent M.: yes
    • Young, Tom, Jr.: yes
    • Zell, Jeff: yes
    • Corbin, Thomas D.: no
    • Martin, Shane R.: no
    • Gambrell, Michael W.: excused
    • Matthews, Margie Bright: excused

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=2&session=126&summary=B

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:32:06.227230Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:

Bulk imports for this sessionSession dates and activity

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=SC&identifier=S 2. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.