SC Hands-Free Act
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HANDS-FREE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 56-5-3890, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL USE OF WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHILE OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN TERMS AND THEIR...” Read the full text
126th session (2025-2026)
What it does
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HANDS-FREE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 56-5-3890, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL USE OF WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHILE OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS, TO DEFINE THE TERM "MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE," TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES MAY NOT BE USED WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF DISTRACTED DRI
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Show all 42 actions
Prefiled · Dec 5, 2024
House
Referred to Committee on Judiciary · Dec 5, 2024
House
Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 152) · Jan 14, 2025
House
Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 152) · Jan 14, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McGinnis · Jan 29, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Calhoon · Feb 11, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bernstein · Feb 13, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Wooten · Feb 18, 2025
House
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House Journal-page 9) · Mar 20, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hart, Henderson-Myers, Erickson, Bradley · Mar 25, 2025
House
Scrivener's error corrected · Mar 25, 2025
Debate adjourned until Thur., 3-27-25 (House Journal-page 27) · Mar 26, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ligon · Mar 26, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliard, Anderson, Rivers, Schuessler · Mar 27, 2025
House
Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Henderson-Myers · Mar 27, 2025
House
Requests for debate-Rep(s). King, Long, Gibson, Frank, Edgerton, Magnuson, Kilmartin, White, Terribile, Chumley, Cromer, Gilreath, Huff, Williams, McDaniel, Grant, Garvin, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, R · Mar 27, 2025
House
Amended (House Journal-page 35) · Mar 27, 2025
House
Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 35) · Mar 27, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon · Apr 1, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith · Apr 3, 2025
House
Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Gilliard, Rivers · Apr 9, 2025
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hartnett · Apr 9, 2025
House
Amended (House Journal-page 65) · Apr 9, 2025
House
Read second time (House Journal-page 65) · Apr 9, 2025
House
Roll call Yeas-85 Nays-25 (House Journal-page 65) · Apr 9, 2025
House
Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 44) · Apr 10, 2025
House
Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 13) · Apr 15, 2025
Senate
Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate Journal-page 13) · Apr 15, 2025
Senate
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Transportation (Senate Journal-page 22) · Apr 16, 2025
Senate
Special order, set for April 29, 2025 (Senate Journal-page 51) · Apr 29, 2025
Senate
Committee Amendment Adopted · Apr 30, 2025
Senate
Amended (Senate Journal-page 58) · Apr 30, 2025
Senate
Read second time (Senate Journal-page 58) · Apr 30, 2025
Senate
Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 58) · Apr 30, 2025
Senate
Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 85) · May 1, 2025
Senate
Debate adjourned until Wed., 5-7-25 (House Journal-page 210) · May 6, 2025
House
Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 41) · May 7, 2025
House
Roll call Yeas-77 Nays-37 (House Journal-page 41) · May 7, 2025
House
Ratified R 59 · May 8, 2025
Signed By Governor · May 12, 2025
Effective date 09/01/25 · May 19, 2025
Act No. 40 · May 19, 2025
The numbers
19
sponsors on the bill
Sponsors
PopeRobbinsChapmanW. NewtonTaylorForrestMcGinnisCalhoonBernsteinWootenHartEricksonBradleyLigonAndersonSchuesslerHixonM.M. SmithHartnett
Recorded votes
Concur in Senate AmendmentsHouse · 2025-05-07 · Passed · Yeas 77, Nays 37, Excused Absence 3, Not Voting 6
2nd ReadingSenate · 2025-04-30 · Passed · Ayes 40, Nays 0, Excused Absence 3
Passage of BillHouse · 2025-04-09 · Passed · Yeas 85, Nays 25, Excused Absence 6, Not Voting 7
Table Amendment 7 Amendment number 7House · 2025-04-09 · Failed · Yeas 18, Nays 82, Excused Absence 6, Not Voting 17
Adopt Amendment 1 Amendment number 1House · 2025-03-27 · Passed · Yeas 70, Nays 29, Excused Absence 10, Not Voting 13
Table Motion to Adjourn DebateHouse · 2025-03-27 · Passed · Yeas 53, Nays 39, Excused Absence 10, Not Voting 20
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the South Carolina legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Act No. 40 (May 19, 2025).