2025-2026 Regular SessionSouth Carolina Legislature

H3430: Tort Reform and Liquor Liability

Legislative Summary

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 15-38-15, Relating To Joint And Several Liability And The Apportionment Of Percentages Of Fault And Alcoholic Beverage Or Drug Exceptions, Among Other Things, So As To Further Modify Provisions Relating To Joint And Several Liability, To Remove The Exception To The Provisions Of The Section Applying To The Use, Sale, Or Possession Of Alcohol, To Provide Procedures For The Inclusion Of Additional Tortfeasors In A Cause Of Action And For The Trier Of Fact To Allocate Fault To Additional Tortfeasors, And To Provide Circumstances Under Which Additional Nondefendant Tortfeasors Shall Be Added To A Verdict Form And Circumstances Under Which They Shall Not Be Added; By Amending Section 61-6-2220, Relating To Alcohol Sales, So As To Prohibit A Person From Knowingly Selling Alcohol To An Intoxicated Person; By Adding Chapter 3 To Title 61 So As To Establish An Alcohol Server Training Requirement; By Amending Section 61-2-60, Relating To Regulations Of The Department Of Revenue, So As To Authorize Regulations For The Alcohol Server Training Requirements; By Amending Section 61-4-580, Relating To Prohibited Acts By Holders Of Permits Authorizing The Sale Of Beer Or Wine, So As To Provide Penalties For Violations; By Adding Section 61-4-523 So As To Provide Procedures For The Sale Of Beer And Wine At Collegiate Sporting Events Under Certain Circumstances; By Adding Section 38-73-550 So As To Require The Director Of The Department Of Insurance To Make Certain Reports Regarding Liquor Liability Coverage In This State; By Amending Section 38-90-20, Relating To Licensing, Required Information And Documentation, Fees, And Renewal, So As To Include Liquor Liability Insurance; By Amending Section 61-2-145, Relating To The Requirement Of Liability Insurance Coverage, So As To Provide For Liquor Liability Risk Mitigation; And By Adding Section 61-2-147 So As To Provide That Tortfeasors Charged With Certain Driving Under The Influence Offenses Shall Appear On The Jury Verdict Form Upon Motion Of The Defendant Under Certain Circumstances, And To Provide If A Verdict Is Rendered Against Both A Licensee And A Defendant Charged With Certain Driving Under The Influence Offenses That The Licensee Is Jointly And Severally Liable For Fifty Percent Of The Plaintiff's Actual Damages. - Ratified Title

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Bill History

12/5/2024
Prefiled
House of Representatives
12/5/2024
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
House of Representatives
1/14/2025
Introduced and read first time
House of Representatives
1/14/2025
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
House of Representatives
1/16/2025
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bannister, Sessions, Jordan, Robbins, Collins, Martin, Lawson, Wickensimer, Landing, Long, Hiott, Forrest, Sanders, Teeple, Oremus, Hartz, Guest, Pedalino, M.M.Smith, Schuessler, Hixon, Chapman, Gatch, McGinnis, Neese, Hardee, Ligon, Taylor, Willis, Vaughan, Brittain, Erickson, Bradley, Rankin, Hager, Whitmire, Gilliam, Crawford, Hewitt, Yow
House of Representatives
2/12/2025
Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
House of Representatives
2/18/2025
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ballentine, Gagnon
House of Representatives
2/18/2025
Debate adjourned
House of Representatives
2/19/2025
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brewer
House of Representatives
2/19/2025
Read second time
House of Representatives
2/19/2025
Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-0
House of Representatives
2/20/2025
Read third time and sent to Senate
House of Representatives
2/26/2025
Introduced and read first time
Senate
2/26/2025
Referred to Committee on Finance
Senate
3/26/2025
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Finance
Senate
4/1/2025
Committee Amendment Adopted
Senate
4/1/2025
Read second time
Senate
4/1/2025
Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
Senate
4/2/2025
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
Senate
4/3/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
4/3/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
4/9/2025
Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-10-25
House of Representatives
4/10/2025
Debate adjourned
House of Representatives
4/23/2025
Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-24-25
House of Representatives
4/24/2025
Debate adjourned
House of Representatives
4/30/2025
Amended
House of Representatives
4/30/2025
Debate adjourned
House of Representatives
5/1/2025
Debate adjourned
House of Representatives
5/6/2025
Senate amendment amended
House of Representatives
5/6/2025
Returned to Senate with amendments
House of Representatives
5/7/2025
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
Senate
5/7/2025
Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-1
Senate
5/8/2025
Ratified R 61
5/12/2025
Signed By Governor
5/19/2025
Effective date See Act for Effective Date
5/19/2025
Act No. 42

Roll Call Votes

Senate: To Concur
5/7/2025
41
Yea
1
Nay
1
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Senate: 2nd Reading
4/1/2025
45
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
House: Passage Of Bill
2/19/2025
105
Yea
0
Nay
10
Not Voting
7
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Passed(5/19/2025)
Chamber
Senate

Documents

Amended
Bill Text5/7/202549.1 KB
Amended
Bill Text4/30/202592.4 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text4/3/202540.6 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text4/3/202540.7 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text4/1/202540.2 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text3/26/202546.8 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text2/12/202516.8 KB
Introduced
Bill Text12/5/20248.2 KB
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note2/5/2025161.1 KB