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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

H 3530: Magistrates' Reform Act

In committee 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 3530 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on December 5, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Magistrates' Reform Act. Primary sponsor: Weston Newton (Republican), Tommy Pope (Republican), Tiffany Spann-Wilder (Democratic), Gilda Cobb-Hunter (Democratic), Beth Bernstein (Democratic), David Vaughan (Republican), Cody Mitchell (Republican), Robby Robbins (Republican), Travis Moore (Republican), Rosalyn Henderson-Myers (Democratic), Wendell Gilliard (Democratic), Robert Williams (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (March 25, 2026): Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary.

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.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 2-19-115 SO AS TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR MAGISTRATE POSITIONS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER JUDICIAL CANDIDATES UPON VACANCIES, AND TO DEFINE WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-10, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT, TERM AND TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, OR RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND LIMITATIONS ON MAGISTRATES' HOLDOVER STATUS AND TO REQUIRE MAGISTRATES GOING FORWARD TO HOLD A JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE AND BE A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-15, RELATING TO MAGISTRATES PRESENTLY SERVING, SO AS TO GRANDFATHER MAGISTRATES SERVING IN OFFICE ON JUNE 30, 2025; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-10, RELATING TO CIVIL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-550, RELATING TO CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT; AND BY REPEALING SECTIONS 22-2-10 AND 22-2-15 RELATING TO A SCREENING COMMITTEE TO ASSIST IN THE SELECTION OF MAGISTRATES AND THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR NONPARTISAN SELECTION OF MAGISTRATES, RESPECTIVELY.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6 · Republican 6

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Weston NewtonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse120
Tommy PopePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse47
Tiffany Spann-WilderPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse109
Gilda Cobb-HunterPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse95
Beth BernsteinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse78
David VaughanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse27
Cody MitchellPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse65
Robby RobbinsPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse97
Travis MoorePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse33
Rosalyn Henderson-MyersPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse31
Wendell GilliardPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse111
Robert WilliamsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse62

“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. Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary
  2. Debate adjourned
  3. Debate adjourned until Tuesday, March 24.
  4. Debate adjourned
  5. Debate adjourned
  6. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Williams
  7. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliard
  8. Debate adjourned until Wed., 2-25-26
  9. Debate adjourned
  10. Debate adjourned
  11. Debate adjourned
  12. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Henderson-Myers

Showing 12 most recent of 24 actions. Full history

Sources

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