South Carolina H 4565: Censure of House member

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4565 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 13, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4565

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A house RESOLUTION

TO FORMALLY CENSURE REPRESENTATIVE John Richard C. 
King FOR STATEMENTS MADE IN VIOLATION OF RULE 3.6, RULES OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, REGARDING DECORUM AND under THE AUTHORITY OF SECTION 12, 
ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895.

Whereas, Representative 
John Richard C. King, made public statements inciting violence against his 
fellow House members including statements that extend well beyond expressing 
mere disagreement. The statements were so egregious that they are considered personal 
attacks upon members of the House of Representatives which are prohibited under 
Rule 3.6, Rules of the House of Representatives, which regulates decorum in the 
body and prohibits disrespect to the House and all personalities; and

Whereas, Section 12, 
Article III of the South Carolina Constitution provides, among other things, 
that each house shall punish its members for disorderly behavior; and

Whereas, in this case, 
Representative King's statements are likely to incite violence against elected 
officials and in the public itself and are uncalled for at all times but 
especially in today's political violent climate; and

Whereas, Representative 
King's statements amount to conduct unbecoming a member of the House of 
Representatives and, as a result, has brought dishonor to himself, the State of 
South Carolina, and to its citizens and it is therefore appropriate that he be 
censured by the body. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, hereby censures John Richard C. King for statements made in 
violation of Rule 3.6, Rules of the House of Representatives, regarding decorum 
and under the authority of Section 12, Article III of the Constitution of the 
State of South Carolina, 1895.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 02:41 PM