South Carolina S 336: Assault and Battery; high and aggravated nature

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 336 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 28, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 336

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

Committee Report

January 28, 2026

S. 336

Introduced 
by Senators Alexander, Massey and Rankin 

S. Printed 1/28/26--H.

Read the first time March 27, 2025

________

The committee on House Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 336) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 2-19-90, relating to 
approval of the General Assembly in joint session, so as to set the first Wednesday, 
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 specifies that the General 
Assembly must meet in joint session on the first Wednesday of March for the 
election of judges. Currently, the date and time for the joint session is set 
by concurrent resolution upon the recommendation of the Judicial Merit 
Selection Committee.

The Senate and the House of Representatives 
indicate that the bill requires duties that can be conducted during the normal 
course of business. Therefore, this bill will have no expenditure impact on 
either legislative body. 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 2-19-90, RELATING TO APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION, 
SO AS TO SET THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF March FOR THE ELECTIONS OF JUDGES BY THE 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2-19-90 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
2-19-90. The General Assembly shall meet in joint session for the election of 
judges on the first Wednesday of March at noon in the 
House of Representatives. The date and time for 
the joint session shall be set by concurrent resolution upon the recommendation 
of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. The Chairman of the 
Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall announce the commission's nominees 
for each judicial race, and no further nominating or seconding speeches shall 
be allowed by members of the General Assembly. In order to be elected, a 
candidate must receive a majority of the vote of the members of the General 
Assembly voting in joint session.

SECTION 2. Section 2-19-80(E) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (E) A period of at 
least twenty-two days must elapse between the date of the commission's 
nominations to the General Assembly and The 
commission must formally release its report as to the qualifications of its 
nominees to the General Assembly not less than twenty-three days before the 
date the General Assembly conducts the election for these judgeships.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect on July 1, 
2025.

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This web page was last updated on January 28, 2026 at 08:35 PM