summary
Introduced
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
In Committee
04/01/2025
04/01/2025
Crossed Over
03/27/2025
03/27/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 7-17-560, Relating To The Authority Of The State Executive Committee Of A Political Party To Hear Certain Primary Protests And Contests, So As To Require The State Executive Committee To Also Hear Protests And Contests In The Case Of County Officers, Less Than County Officers, And Municipal Officers, To Authorize The State Executive Committee To Adopt A Resolution To Require The Filing Of Any Protest Or Contest To Be Accompanied By A Bond With Surety, And To Provide For Appeals From Decisions By The State Executive Committee; By Amending Section 7-17-570, Relating To Hearings Of Primary Protests And Contests, So As To Extend The Time In Which The State Executive Committee Must Conduct Such Hearings; By Amending Section 5-15-80, Relating To Municipal Primary Protests And Contests, So As To Provide That Such Protests And Contests Are To Be Filed, Heard, And Decided In The Manner Provided In Sections 7-17-560 And 7-17-570; And By Repealing Sections 7-17-520, 7-17-530, 7-17-540, 7-17-550, 7-17-580, And 7-17-590 All Relating To Primary Protests And Contests For Certain Offices.
AI Summary
This bill expands the authority of a political party's State Executive Committee to hear protests and contests related to primary elections, now including those for county, less than county, and municipal officers, in addition to existing provisions for federal, state, and multi-county offices. It also allows the State Executive Committee to require a bond with surety, up to $750, to cover the costs of hearing a protest if the challenge is denied, with the bond being refunded if the challenge is successful. Furthermore, the bill extends the timeframe within which the State Executive Committee must conduct these hearings and establishes a direct appeal process to the Supreme Court for decisions made by the committee. Finally, it repeals several existing sections of the law that previously governed primary protests and contests for certain offices, consolidating these procedures under the authority of the State Executive Committee.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (on 02/18/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3556&session=126&summary=B |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/3556_20260218.htm |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/3556_20250327.htm |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/3556_20250326.htm |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/3556_20250320.htm |
| Fiscal Note - H3556 2025-01-14 Introduced | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/H3556%202025-01-14%20introduced.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/3556_20241205.htm |
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