summary
Introduced
03/04/2025
03/04/2025
In Committee
03/04/2025
03/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Enacting The "protection Of Minors From Pornography And Obscenities Act" By Amending Section 16-15-375, Relating To Definitions Applicable To The Article Regarding Obscenity Laws, So As To Amend The Definitions Of "harmful To Minors" And "material" To Include Any Portion Of Materials And Performances That May Be Considered Obscene, And To Define The Term "profane Language"; And By Amending Section 16-15-385, Relating To The Offenses Of Disseminating Harmful Material To Minors And Exhibiting Harmful Performances To Minors, Defenses, And Penalties, So As To Limit The Affirmative Defense Provided By The Statute Only To The Teaching Of Age-appropriate Sex Education And Human Biology Curriculum.
AI Summary
This bill amends South Carolina's obscenity laws to expand protections for minors by broadening the definition of "harmful to minors" to include any portion of materials or performances that contain sexually explicit, obscene, or profane content. The bill specifically adds "profane language" to the legal definition, which is defined as language or gestures that depict sexual or excretory organs or activities in a manner offensive to contemporary community standards. The legislation narrows the existing legal defenses for disseminating harmful material to minors, limiting exceptions only to age-appropriate sex education and human biology curriculum with explicit parental consent, and excluding school and classroom libraries. The bill aims to close perceived loopholes that previously allowed individuals or organizations to distribute materials with partially inappropriate content by treating any portion of a work that meets the harmful criteria as potentially illegal. The changes are intended to provide more comprehensive protection for minors from exposure to sexually explicit, obscene, or profane materials across various media formats, including digital files, videos, pictures, and other visual representations.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (42)
April Cromer (R)*,
Nathan Ballentine (R),
Thomas Beach (R),
Phillip Bowers (R),
Mike Burns (R),
Micah Caskey (R),
Bill Chumley (R),
Bobby Cox (R),
Sarita Edgerton (R),
Stephen Frank (R),
Daniel Gibson (R),
Doug Gilliam (R),
Thomas Lee Gilreath (R),
Brandon Guffey (R),
Bill Hager (R),
Kevin Hardee (R),
William Huff (R),
Jay Kilmartin (R),
John Lastinger (R),
Brian Lawson (R),
Randy Ligon (R),
Steven Long (R),
Josiah Magnuson (R),
Ryan McCabe (R),
John McCravy (R),
Tim McGinnis (R),
Cody Mitchell (R),
Dianne Mitchell (R),
Dennis Moss (R),
Melissa Oremus (R),
Jordan Pace (R),
Fawn Pedalino (R),
Luke Rankin (R),
Blake Sanders (R),
Mark Smith (R),
Jackie Terribile (R),
David Vaughan (R),
Joe White (R),
Paul Wickensimer (R),
Mark Willis (R),
Chris Wooten (R),
Richie Yow (R),
Last Action
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pedalino (on 02/11/2026)
Official Document
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=4123&session=126&summary=B |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/4123_20250304.htm |
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