South Carolina S 270: Attempted Murder

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 270 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 270

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

As Passed By The Senate

April 29, 2026

S. 270

Introduced by Senators Alexander, Hembree, Adams, 
Goldfinch, Walker, Garrett and Zell 

S. Printed 4/29/26--S. [SEC 
5/6/2026 11:06 AM]

Read the first time January 28, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 16-3-29, RELATING TO ATTEMPTED MURDER, SO AS TO DEFINE ATTEMPTED MURDER 
AS COMMITTING AN UNLAWFUL ACT OF A VIOLENT NATURE THAT CAUSES INJURY TO ANOTHER 
WITH MALICE.

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

SECTION 1. Section 16-3-29 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
16-3-29. (A) A person who, with intent to 
kill, attempts to kill another person with malice aforethought, either 
expressed or implied, commits the offense of attempted murder. ,A person who 
violates this section is guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, must be 
imprisoned for not more than thirty years. A sentence imposed pursuant to this 
section may not be suspended nor may probation be granted. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly, unlawfully and 
deliberately or with reckless disregard for life attempt to kill another person 
unless it is in defense of that person's own property or the life of himself or 
another as provided in Title 16, Chapter 11, Article 6. A person who violates 
the provisions of this subsection is guilty of attempted murder in the first 
degree, a felony, and must be imprisoned for not less than five years nor more 
than thirty years.

 (B) It is unlawful for a person to 
knowingly, unlawfully and deliberately or with reckless disregard for life 
discharge or cause to be discharged a firearm at a group, crowd, or other 
location where one or more persons are reasonably expected to be present, 
unless it is in defense of that person's own property or the life of himself or 
another as provided in Title 16, Chapter 11, Article 6. A person who violates 
the provisions of this subsection is guilty of attempted murder in the second 
degree, a felony, and must be imprisoned for not less than three years nor more 
than twenty years.

 (C) The provisions of this act are 
intended to occupy the field addressed herein. To the extent that any rule, 
doctrine, or principle of the common law conflicts with the provisions of this 
act, the common law is hereby abrogated and superseded.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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