Skip to main content
Independent and nonpartisan. SaveYourState is a civic information resource. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any government agency, party, or campaign.

South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

H 3276: SC Hands-Free Act

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 3276 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on December 5, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: SC Hands-Free Act. Primary sponsor: Tommy Pope (Republican), Robby Robbins (Republican), Don Chapman (Republican), Weston Newton (Republican), Bill Taylor (Republican), Cal Forrest (Republican), Tim McGinnis (Republican), Paula Calhoon (Republican), Beth Bernstein (Democratic), Chris Wooten (Republican), Chris Hart (Democratic), Shannon Erickson (Republican), Jeff Bradley (Republican), Randy Ligon (Republican), Carl Anderson (Democratic), Carla Schuessler (Republican), Bill Hixon (Republican), Mark Smith (Republican), Tom Hartnett (Republican). Most recent recorded action (May 19, 2025): Act No. 40.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HANDS-FREE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 56-5-3890, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL USE OF WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHILE OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS, TO DEFINE THE TERM "MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE," TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES MAY NOT BE USED WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF DISTRACTED DRIVING AND PROVIDE PENALTIES, TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF FINES IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UPON WHICH THIS SECTION MAY BE ENFORCED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE SHARING OF CERTAIN INFORMATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TO PROVIDE THIS SECTION IS NOT SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS RELATED TO CITIZENS ARRESTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO POINTS THAT MAY BE ASSESSED AGAINST A PERSON'S DRIVING RECORD FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVING VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE OF DISTRACTED DRIVING IS A TWO-POINT VIOLATION; TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL ERECT SIGNS ADVISING MOTORISTS OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE ONLY WARNINGS MAY BE ISSUED FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD; AND TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL FILE A REPORT WITH CERTAIN OFFICIALS CONTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT PERSONS STOPPED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT. - RATIFIED TITLE

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3 · Republican 16

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Tommy PopePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse47
Robby RobbinsPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse97
Don ChapmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse8
Weston NewtonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse120
Bill TaylorPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse86
Cal ForrestPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse39
Tim McGinnisPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse56
Paula CalhoonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse87
Beth BernsteinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse78
Chris WootenPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse69
Chris HartPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse73
Shannon EricksonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse124
Jeff BradleyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse123
Randy LigonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse43
Carl AndersonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse103
Carla SchuesslerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse61
Bill HixonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse83
Mark SmithPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse99
Tom HartnettPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse110

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Act No. 40
  2. Effective date 09/01/25
  3. Signed By Governor
  4. Ratified R 59
  5. Roll call Yeas-77 Nays-37
  6. Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
  7. Debate adjourned until Wed., 5-7-25
  8. Read third time and returned to House with amendments
  9. Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
  10. Read second time
  11. Amended
  12. Committee Amendment Adopted

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source