South Carolina H 5505: Jim Hudson Automotive Group

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5505 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 02, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5505

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 ADDING SECTION 
16-15-125 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFENSE OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF AN ANIMAL, AND TO 
PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 15, Title 16 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
16-15-125. (A) For purposes of this 
section:

 (1) 
"Animal" means a living vertebrate creature except homo sapiens, whether alive 
or dead.

 (2) 
"Sexual conduct" means:

 (a) 
any act committed for the purpose of sexual arousal or sexual gratification, 
abuse, or financial gain between a person and an animal involving contact 
between the sex organs or anus of one and the mouth, sex organs, or anus of the 
other; or

 (b) 
the insertion, however slight, of any part of the body of a person or any 
object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal, touching by a person of 
the sex organs or anus of an animal, or the insertion of any part of the 
animal's body into the vaginal or anal opening of the person.

 (B) A 
person commits sexual abuse of an animal if he knowingly and intentionally 
engages in any of the following:

 (1) 
sexual contact with an animal;

 (2) 
possessing, selling, transferring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining an animal 
with the intent that it be subject to sexual contact;

 (3) 
organizing, promoting, conducting, aiding, or abetting another person to engage 
in sexual contact with an animal;

 (4) 
causing, coercing, aiding, or abetting another person to engage in sexual 
contact with an animal;

 (5) 
permitting sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on any premises under 
his charge or control;

 (6) 
advertising, soliciting, offering, or accepting the offer of an animal with the 
intent that it be used for sexual contact; and

 (7) 
filming, distributing, or possessing pornographic images of a person and an 
animal engaged in any of the activities described in items (1) through (6).

 (C)(1) Except as provided in item (2), a 
person who commits the offense of sexual abuse of an animal, upon being found 
guilty, shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not 
more than five years, or both.

 (2) 
A person who commits a second or subsequent offense of sexual abuse of an 
animal, upon being found guilty, shall be fined not more than twenty-five 
thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both.

 (D) 
In addition to any other penalty imposed, a person convicted of violating this 
section shall be ordered to:

 (1) 
relinquish custody of all animals;

 (2) 
not harbor, own, possess, or exercise control over any animal for any length of 
time deemed appropriate by the court;

 (3) 
not reside in any household where an animal is present for any length of time 
deemed appropriate by the court;

 (4) 
not engage in any occupation, whether paid or unpaid, involving animals for any 
length of time deemed appropriate by the court;

 (5) 
participate in a volunteer position at any establishment where animals are 
present for any length of time deemed appropriate by the court;

 (6) 
undergo a psychological evaluation for sex offenders and participate in any 
recommended psychological treatment, with any associated costs to be paid by 
the defendant; and

 (7) 
reimburse the owner of the victimized animal for any expenses incurred for 
medical treatment or rehabilitation if the person convicted of violating this 
section is not the owner.

 (E)(1) Any law enforcement officer 
investigating a violation of this section may lawfully take possession of an 
animal that he has reason to believe has been victimized under this section in 
order to protect the health or safety of the animal or the health or safety of 
others, and to obtain evidence of the offense.

 (2) 
Any animal seized pursuant to this section shall promptly be examined by a 
veterinarian for evidence of sexual contact.

 (3) 
With respect to an animal so seized and impounded, all provisions of Section 
47-1-145 shall apply to the seizure, impoundment, and disposition of the 
animal.

 (F) 
Prosecution under this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other 
applicable provision of law.

 (G) 
The provisions of this section may not be construed so as to apply to the 
following:

 (1) 
accepted veterinary practices;

 (2) 
artificial insemination of an animal for reproductive purposes;

 (3) 
accepted animal husbandry practices, including grooming, raising, breeding, or 
assisting with the birthing process of animals, or any other procedure that 
provides care for an animal; or

 (4) 
generally accepted