South Carolina S 427: SC Agribusiness, Rural, and Opportunity Zone Jobs Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 427 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 427

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

Amended

April 28, 2026

S. 427

Introduced by Senators Adams, Climer, 
Reichenbach, Garrett, Fernandez and Zell 

S. Printed 4/28/26--S. [SEC 
5/6/2026 10:37 AM]

Read the first time March 5, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 3, TITLE 47, RELATING TO TAUNTING, TORMENTING, INJURING, 
OR KILLING POLICE DOGS OR HORSES, SO AS TO EXPAND THE CONDUCT THAT RESULTS IN A 
VIOLATION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES, REQUIRE RESTITUTION TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT 
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY, AND MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as "Fargo's, Hyco's, Rico's, Coba's, Wick's, 
Mikka's, and Bumi's Law".

SECTION 2. Article 11, Chapter 3, Title 47 of the S.C. Code is 
amended to read:

Article 11

Teasing, Maltreating, and Injuring Police Dogs or Horses Prohibited

 Section 
47-3-610. (A) It is unlawful for a person to wilfully and 
maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject a 
desensitizing drug, chemical, or substance to a dog or horse used by a law 
enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties 
of the department or agency or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a 
horse is placed in a stable off duty, or to interfere or meddle with a dog or 
horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the 
functions or duties of the department or agency.

 (B) A person who violates a 
provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must 
be fined not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars 
or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

 Section 
47-3-620. (A)(1) It is unlawful for a person to wilfully orand maliciously torture, 
mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill a dog or horse used by a law 
enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties 
of the department or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a horse is 
placed in a stable off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may 
perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog or 
horse undue suffering and pain.

 (2) It is unlawful for a person to 
wilfully and maliciously shoot into a vehicle or trailer while a police dog or 
horse is inside or shoot and hit a police dog or horse while running in pursuit 
from a law enforcement department or agency.

 (B) A person who violates a provision 
of subsection (A)(1) is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined 
not less than two thousand dollars nor more than twenty thousand dollars, and 
imprisoned for not more than fifteen years. A person who violates a provision 
of subsection (A)(2) is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined 
not less than two thousand dollars nor more than twenty thousand dollars, and 
imprisoned for not more than ten years. In addition to any other penalty provided 
in this section, the court shall order a person convicted of a violation of 
this section to pay restitution to the law enforcement department or agency in 
an amount that would cover the full cost of restoring or replacing the animal 
that was injured or killed, including all related purchase, training, and 
veterinary expenses incurred as a result of the incident.

 Section 
47-3-630. A person who violates any of the provisions of 
this article, except for Section 47-3-620, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon 
conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one 
thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six 
months, or both. A person who violates the provisions of Section 47-3-620 is 
guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two 
thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than 
one year nor more than five years. Nothing in this 
article may be construed to deny a person the right to assert the legal defense 
of self-defense.

 Section 47-3-640. A law enforcement officer, 
including an officer of the State Law Enforcement Division, who engages a 
police dog and the police dog bites a person, must maintain a report with a 
detailed account of the incident which must include the injured person's race, 
gender, and images of the bite, as well as the outcome of the case, all of 
which are subject to the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 30, the Freedom of 
Information Act.

SECTION 3. Section 42-7-90 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
42-7-90. From the