H 4755 General Bill, By Gatch, G.M. Smith, W. Newton, Caskey, Jordan, Bailey, Ballentine, Brewer, Brittain, Chapman, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Duncan, Edgerton, Forrest, Gagnon, Gilliam, Guest, Guffey, Hager, Hardee, Hartz, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Huff, Kilmartin, Lawson, Long, Lowe, Magnuson, Martin, McCravy, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, B. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Sanders, Schuessler, Sessions, M.M. Smith, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, White, Whitmire, Willis, Yow, Erickson, Chumley, Ford, Lastinger, Wickensimer, Bowers, D. Mitchell and Gilreath
Summary: Judicial Selection Reform
    A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-19-5, 2-19-20, 2-19-30, 2-19-35, 2-19-50, 2-19-60 AND 2-19-70, ALL RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION SCREENING AND ELECTION OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE STAFFING AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSFER THAT AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR, TO PROHIBIT SITTING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION, TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION FROM CONSIDERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CRITERIA ALONG WITH OTHER SIMILAR CRITERIA, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
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12/16/25	House	Prefiled
12/16/25	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
01/13/26	House	Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 79)
01/13/26	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 79)
01/14/26	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ford
01/21/26	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger, Wickensimer
02/05/26	House	Committee report: Favorable Judiciary (House Journal-page 5)
02/10/26	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers
02/10/26		Scrivener's error corrected
02/10/26	House	Requests for debate-Rep(s). B Newton, Hewitt, Cox, Lawson, McCravy, Long, White, Edgerton, Magnuson, Hixon, Taylor, Hartz, Cromer (House Journal-page 23)
02/11/26	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: D. Mitchell, Gilreath
02/11/26	House	Amended (House Journal-page 24)
02/11/26	House	Read second time (House Journal-page 24)
02/11/26	House	Roll call Yeas-86 Nays-25 (House Journal-page 32)
02/12/26	House	Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 24)
02/12/26	House	Roll call Yeas-71 Nays-10 (House Journal-page 25)
02/12/26	Senate	Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 4)
02/12/26	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 4)