South Carolina H 4544: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DECLARE JUNE 2018 AS "SOUTH CAROLINA WHOLE CHILD MONTH" IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THE WHOLE CHILD INITIATIVE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF CURRICULUM AND SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT (ASCD) HAS IN ADVANCING THE WELL-BEING OF SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4544 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 22, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4544

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Recalled

April 22, 2026

H. 4544

Introduced 
by Reps. Jordan, W. Newton, M. M. Smith, Cox and Davis 

S. Printed 4/22/26--S.

Read the first time March 26, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY 
AMENDING SECTION 15-32-220, RELATING TO NONECONOMIC DAMAGES LIMIT AND 
EXCEPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR INTENT TO HARM, FELONY CONVICTIONS, 
AND INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 15-78-30, 
RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE TORT CLAIMS ACT, SO AS TO REVISE 
THE MEANING OF "OCCURRENCE"; BY AMENDING SECTION 15-78-120, RELATING TO 
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE 
LIMITATIONS MUST BE INCREASED OR DECREASED; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 33-56-180, 
RELATING TO LIMITED LIABILITY OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, SO AS TO MAKE 
CONFORMING CHANGES.

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

SECTION 
1. Section 15-32-220(E) of the S.C. Code is amended 
to read:

 (E) The limitations for noneconomic 
damages rendered against any health carehealthcare provider or health carehealthcare institution do not apply if the jury or court 
determines by clear and convincing evidence that 
the defendant was grossly negligent, wilful, wanton, or 
reckless, and such conduct was the proximate cause of the claimant's 
noneconomic damages, or if the defendant has engaged in fraud or 
misrepresentation related to the claim, or if the defendant altered or destroyed 
medical records with the purpose of avoiding a claim or liability to the 
claimant.:

 (1) 
acted in a wilful, wanton, or reckless manner;

 (2) 
has pled guilty to or been convicted of a felony arising out of the same course 
of conduct complained of by the plaintiff and that the act or course of conduct 
is a proximate cause of the plaintiff's damages;

 (3) 
acted or failed to act while under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the 
degree that his judgment was materially and appreciably impaired; or

 (4) the defendant has engaged in fraud 
or misrepresentation related to the claim.

SECTION 
2. Section 15-78-30(g) of the S.C. Code is amended 
to read:

 (g) "Occurrence" means an unfolding 
sequence of events which proximately flow from a single act of negligence. For purposes of this chapter, where multiple acts or omissions 
constituting negligence occur without a break in the causal chain, and result 
in substantially the same injury, harm, or damages, such acts or omissions 
shall be deemed a single occurrence, regardless of whether committed by one or 
more individuals or entities.

SECTION 
3. Section 15-78-120 of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 Section 
15-78-120. (a)(A) For any action or claim for damages brought under the 
provisions of this chapter, the liability shall not exceed the following 
limits:

 (1) 
Except as provided in Section 15-78-120(a)(3), no person shall recover in any 
action or claim brought hereunder a sum exceeding three six hundred thousand dollars because of loss arising from 
a single occurrence regardless of the number of agencies or political 
subdivisions involved.

 (2) 
Except as provided in Section 15-78-120(a)(4), the total sum recovered 
hereunder arising out of a single occurrence shall not exceed six hundredone million two hundred 
thousand dollars regardless of the number of agencies or political subdivisions 
or claims or actions involved.

 (3) 
No person may recover in any action or claim brought hereunder against any 
governmental entity and caused by the tort of any licensed physician or 
dentist, employed by a governmental entity and acting within the scope of his 
profession, a sum exceeding one two million twofour hundred thousand dollars because of loss arising 
from a single occurrence regardless of the number of agencies or political 
subdivisions involved.

 (4) 
The total sum recovered hereunder arising out of a single occurrence of 
liability of any governmental entity for any tort caused by any licensed 
physician or dentist, employed by a governmental entity and acting within the 
scope of his profession, may not exceed one two million twofour hundred thousand dollars regardless of the number of 
agencies or political subdivisions or claims or actions involved.

 (5) 
The provisions of Section 15-78-120(a)(3) and (a)(4) shall in no way limit or 
modify the liability of a licensed physician or dentist, acting within the 
scope of his profession, with respect to any action or claim brought hereunder 
which involved services for which the physician or dentist was paid, should 
have been paid, or expected to be paid at the