South Carolina H 4814: Public housing

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4814 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4814

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-10, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT 
OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO REVISE THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MAGISTRATES; AND 
BY AMENDING SECTION 22-2-10, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A SCREENING COMMITTEE 
TO ASSIST IN SELECTION OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE 
SCREENING COMMITTEE MAY INCLUDE HOUSE DELEGATION MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE 
PUBLIC WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 22-1-10(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (B)(1) 
No person is eligible to hold the office of magistrate who is not at the time 
of his appointment a citizen of the United States and of this State, and who 
has not been a resident of this State for at least five years, has not attained 
the age of twenty-one years upon his appointment, and has not received a high 
school diploma or its equivalent educational training as recognized by the 
State Department of Education.

 (2) 
Notwithstanding the educational qualifications required in item (1):

 (a) 
On and after July 1, 2001, no person is eligible for an initial appointment to 
hold the office of magistrate who (i) is not at the time of his appointment a 
citizen of the United States and of this State, (ii) has not been a resident of 
this State for at least five years, (iii) has not attained the age of 
twenty-one years upon his appointment, and (iv) has not received a two-year 
associate degree.

 (b) 
On and after July 1, 2005, no person is eligible for an initial appointment to 
hold the office of magistrate who (i) is not at the time of his appointment a 
citizen of the United States and of this State, (ii) has not been a resident of 
this State for at least five years, (iii) has not attained the age of 
twenty-one years upon his appointment, and (iv) has not received a four-year 
baccalaureate degree.

 (c) On and after July 1, 2026, no person 
is eligible for an initial appointment to hold the office of magistrate who (i) 
is not at the time of his appointment a citizen of the United States and of 
this State, (ii) has not been a resident of this State for at least five years, 
(iii) has not attained the age of twenty-one years upon his appointment, and 
(iv) does not meet one of the following education and experience requirements:

 (A) has received an associate or 
bachelor's degree accompanied by at least six years of background experience in 
law or, if the associate or bachelor's degree is in criminal justice or legal 
studies, accompanied by at least three years of background experience in law;

 (B) has received a master's or doctoral 
degree accompanied by at least three years of background experience in law or, 
if the master's or doctoral degree is in criminal justice or legal studies, 
accompanied by at least one year of background experience in law; or

 (C) has received a Juris Doctor degree.

SECTION 2. Section 22-2-10 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
22-2-10. A senatorial delegation in determining the persons to be recommended 
to the Governor for appointment as magistrates may appoint a screening 
committee to assist them in their selection of nominees. 
Members of the committee may include house delegation members and members of 
the public who are residents of the respective county. If a county delegation 
has less than five members, at least three members of the public must be 
appointed to the screening committee.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:54 PM