South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 3335

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Dillard, Spann-Wilder and Garvin
Document Path: LC-0038SA25.docx

Introduced in the House on January 14, 2025
Introduced in the Senate on May 6, 2025
Last Amended on May 7, 2026
Currently residing in the House

Summary: Designation of representation in magistrates court

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
12/5/2024 House Prefiled
12/5/2024 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/14/2025 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 173)
1/14/2025 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 173)
4/30/2025 House Committee report: Favorable Judiciary (House Journal-page 7)
5/1/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Garvin
5/1/2025 House Read second time (House Journal-page 44)
5/1/2025 House Roll call Yeas-111 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 44)
5/1/2025 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 45)
5/2/2025 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 3)
5/6/2025 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 19)
5/6/2025 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 19)
4/29/2026 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 15)
5/7/2026 Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 37)
5/7/2026 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 37)
5/7/2026 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 37)
5/7/2026 Senate Roll call Ayes-46 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 37)
5/12/2026 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 22)
5/14/2026 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 25)
5/14/2026 House Roll call Yeas-113 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 25)
5/15/2026 Ratified R 246
5/19/2026 Signed By Governor

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/5/2024
4/30/2025
4/29/2026
5/7/2026

NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(R246, H3335)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 33-1-103, RELATING TO DESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATION IN MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCLUDE HOUSING AUTHORITIES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 31-3-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HOUSING AUTHORITIES MAY DESIGNATE A CERTAIN REPRESENTATIVE.

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

Designation of representation in magistrates court

SECTION 1.    Section 33-1-103 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 33-1-103.    A corporation or partnership, as defined in this section, or a housing authority may designate an employee or principal of the corporation, partnership, or housing authority to represent it in magistrates court. This designation must be in writing and must be submitted to the magistrate at the time the initial pleading in the case is filed by the party. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 40 or any other provision of law, the person so designated, while representing the corporation, partnership, or housing authority in magistrates court, is not engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.

As used in this section, a corporation or partnership is defined as a general partnership, a limited liability partnership, a limited liability company, a limited partnership, a professional association, a professional corporation, a nonprofit corporation, a business corporation, or a statutory close corporation.

Housing authority representative

SECTION 2.    Chapter 3, Title 31 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 31-3-70.    A housing authority may designate an employee or a manager to represent the housing authority in magistrates court as provided in Section 33-1-103.

Time effective

SECTION 3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2026.

______________________________________________________________________

President of the Senate

_____________________________________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2026.

____________________________________________________________________

Governor

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This web page was last updated on May 15, 2026 at 5:12 PM