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 3536: South Carolina Hands Free 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 3536 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on December 5, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: South Carolina Hands Free Act. Primary sponsor: Bill Taylor (Republican), Tim McGinnis (Republican), Cal Forrest (Republican), Beth Bernstein (Democratic), Mark Smith (Republican), Sylleste Davis (Republican), Harriet Holman (Republican), Brandon Cox (Republican). Most recent recorded action (February 5, 2025): Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith, Davis, Holman, B.L.Cox.

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 ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HANDS-FREE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3995 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UPON WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO USE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF DISTRACTED DRIVING, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO THE POINT SYSTEM ESTABLISHED AND A SCHEDULE OF POINTS FOR VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE 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; BY REPEALING SECTION 56-5-3890 RELATING TO UNLAWFUL USE OF A WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE; TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SHALL ISSUE WARNINGS FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT DURING THE NINETY-DAY PERIOD FOLLOWING ITS EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO PROVIDE AT THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL ISSUE A REPORT CONTAINING THE AGE, GENDER, AND RACE OF EVERY DRIVER ISSUED A CITATION.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 7

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Bill TaylorPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse86
Tim McGinnisPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse56
Cal ForrestPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse39
Beth BernsteinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse78
Mark SmithPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse99
Sylleste DavisPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse100
Harriet HolmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse102
Brandon CoxPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse92

“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. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith, Davis, Holman, B.L.Cox
  2. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bernstein
  3. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McGinnis
  4. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  5. Introduced and read first time
  6. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  7. Prefiled

Sources

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