summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 16-25-10, Relating To Definitions Pertaining To A "dating Relationship" And "coercive Control", So As To Include Persons Who Are Presently In Or Have Formerly Been In A Dating Relationship In The Definition Of "household Member" And To Add The Definitions Of Dating Relationship And Coercive Control; By Amending Section 16-25-20, Relating To Prohibited Acts, So As To Make It Unlawful For A Person To Engage In Coercive Control Over A Person's Own Household; By Amending Section 20-3-10, Relating To Grounds For Divorce, So As To Include Criminal Domestic Violence Against A Spouse, Stalking, And Harassment As Grounds For Divorce; By Amending Section 20-4-20, Relating To Definitions Pertaining To Abuse, So As To Include Harassment, Stalking, And Coercive Control Into The Definitions Of "abuse" And To Further Provide That A Household Member Includes Persons Who Are Presently In Or Have Formerly Been In A Dating Relationship; And By Amending Section 63-15-240, Relating To The Contents Of Order For Custody Affecting Rights And Responsibilities Of Parents And The Best Interests Of The Child, So As To Include The Statutory Reference To Domestic Violence And Add Stalking And Harassment As Activity For A Court To Consider When Determining What Is In The Best Interest Of A Child.
AI Summary
This bill expands the definition of "household member" to include individuals who are or have been in a dating relationship, and it introduces "coercive control" as a criminal act, defining it as a pattern of behavior that strips away a person's free will and personal liberty through isolation, exploitation, deprivation of necessities, constant monitoring, degradation, threats, or reproductive coercion. It makes engaging in coercive control against a household member unlawful, adds criminal domestic violence, stalking, and harassment as grounds for divorce, includes harassment, stalking, and coercive control within the definition of "abuse" for protection orders, and mandates that courts consider stalking and harassment when determining a child's best interests in custody cases.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Scrivener's error corrected (on 01/14/2026)
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=0702&session=126&summary=B |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/702_20260114.htm |
| Fiscal Note - S0702 2025-12-10 Prefiled | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/S0702%202025-12-10%20prefiled.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/702_20251210.htm |
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