South Carolina S 823: Seneca Girls Track 3A Champions

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 823 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 823

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Committee Report

May 6, 2026

S. 823

Introduced 
by Senators Reichenbach, Hutto, Devine and Walker 

S. Printed 5/6/26--H.

Read the first time March 26, 2026

________

The committee on House Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 823) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Sections 63-7-2630 and 63-9-765 so as 
to require family courts to consider the appropriateness of no contact orders, etc., 
respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

W. NEWTON for Committee.

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill requires family courts entering 
orders terminating parental rights or final decrees of adoption to consider 
whether a no-contact or supervised-contact order between a child and any 
biological parent or relative is necessary to protect the child's safety, 
welfare, or attachment to the adoptive family or other caregiver. If the court 
determines that a no-contact or supervised-contact order is not necessary, the 
court must make written findings on the record stating the factual basis for 
that determination. 

Under this bill, a violation of a 
no-contact order may be enforced by civil contempt. Additionally, upon motion 
of any party or the child, if of sufficient age and maturity, the court may 
modify or terminate a no-contact order or supervised-contact order upon a 
showing that modification is in the child's best interests.

DSS currently makes decisions on whether to 
allow contact between a child and any biological parent or relative, especially 
in cases involving the termination of parental rights. This bill moves the 
issuance of no-contact or supervised-contact orders in these cases to the 
family courts. Any resources made available due to this shift will be 
reallocated to other needs within the agency. Therefore, this bill will have no 
fiscal impact on DSS.

This bill may result in an increase in the 
number of family court cases since these orders are enforceable by civil 
contempt and this bill provides for modification or termination of these 
orders. Judicial anticipates that the potential impact of the caseload in 
family court can be managed within existing appropriations. However, if the 
bill has an unanticipated impact on caseloads or downstream expenses, Judicial 
will request an increase in General Fund appropriations.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTIONS 63-7-2630 AND 63-9-765 SO AS TO 
REQUIRE FAMILY COURTS TO CONSIDER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF NO CONTACT ORDERS OR 
SUPERVISED-CONTACT ORDERS WHEN TERMINATING PARENTAL RIGHTS OR FINALIZING 
ADOPTIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THESE ORDERS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Article 7, Chapter 7, Title 63 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
63-7-2630. (A) For purposes of this 
section:

 (1) 
"Contact" means any in-person contact, telephone call, text message, electronic 
communication, including social media, mail, third-party communication, or 
attempt to effectuate communication directed to the child or any caregiver of 
the child.

 (2) 
"No contact order" means a court order prohibiting all contact as that term is 
defined in this section.

 (3) 
"Supervised-contact order" means a court order permitting contact only in the 
presence of, and under the supervision of, a court-approved individual and 
subject to any conditions the court may impose.

 (B) 
Upon motion of any party, except for a person who is the subject of the 
termination of parental rights action, or at the discretion of the court, when 
the court enters an order terminating parental rights pursuant to this article, 
the court may:

 (1) 
consider whether a no contact order or supervised-contact order between the 
child and any biological parent or relative is necessary to protect the child's 
safety, welfare, or attachment to the prospective adoptive family or other 
caregiver; and

 (2) 
if the court determines that a no contact order or supervised-contact order is 
not necessary, make written findings on the record stating the factual basis 
for that determination.

 (C) 
In making a determination pursuant to subsection (B), the court shall consider, 
where relevant:

 (1) 
any history of violence, stalking, harassment, threats, or unlawful 
interference by the biological parent or relative;

 (2) 
credible allegations of abuse or neglect or attempts to abduct or remove the 
child or a sibling from lawful custody;