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

S 723: CSAM penalties

Passed one chamber 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

S 723 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate on December 10, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: CSAM penalties. Primary sponsor: Allen Blackmon (Republican), Wes Climer (Republican), Carlisle Kennedy (Republican), Mike Reichenbach (Republican), Rex Rice (Republican), Jeff Zell (Republican), Billy Garrett (Republican), Overture Walker (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 26, 2026): Referred 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 AMENDING SECTION 16-15-395, RELATING TO FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR DEFINED; PRESUMPTIONS; DEFENSES; PENALTIES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-405, RELATING TO SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR DEFINED; PRESUMPTIONS; DEFENSES; PENALTIES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-410, RELATING TO THIRD DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR DEFINED; PENALTIES; EXCEPTION, SO AS TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF IMAGES POSSESSED, INCLUDING A PENALTY OF UP TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE ONE TO TWENTY-FIVE IMAGES, ONE TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE TWENTY-SIX TO TWO HUNDRED FIFTY IMAGES, AND A PENALTY OF TWO TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY IMAGES; AND TO ESTABLISH THAT A PERSON WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER AND VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION, UPON CONVICTION, MUST SERVE A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.

Sponsors

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

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Allen BlackmonPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate27
Wes ClimerPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate15
Carlisle KennedyPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate23
Mike ReichenbachPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate31
Rex RicePrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate2
Jeff ZellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate36
Billy GarrettPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate10
Overture WalkerPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate22

“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. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  2. Introduced and read first time
  3. Read third time and sent to House
  4. Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0
  5. Read second time
  6. Amended
  7. Committee Amendment Adopted
  8. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
  9. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  10. Introduced and read first time
  11. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  12. Prefiled

Sources

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