Committee Report

March 26, 2026

 

H. 4270

 

Introduced by Reps. Schuessler, B. J. Cox, McGinnis, Yow, Jones, Vaughan, Kirby, Dillard, Wetmore, Bauer, Collins, Wickensimer, Brewer, Gilliard, Bernstein, Bannister, Willis, J. L. Johnson, Guest, King, Chapman, Herbkersman, Bradley, Brittain, Burns, Martin, Calhoon, Lowe, C. Mitchell, Oremus, Atkinson, Sessions, Haddon and Waters

 

S. Printed 3/26/26--H.                                                                         [SEC 3/31/2026 10:22 AM]

Read the first time March 27, 2025

 

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The committee on House Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4270) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 60-2-60 so as to provide for the removal of certain public records, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

 

   Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 2, Title 30 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 30-2-60. Eviction filings and records made pursuant to Section 27-40-10 or 27-37-10, including those concluded by Orders of Eviction or Writ of Ejectment, cases resolved by settlement, or resolved by subsequent payment for the judgment that satisfied any debt that include personal information of a defendant, must be removed from the public index and any publicly accessible files available for public record five years after the final disposition or filing if no disposition is recorded. Court records more than five years old must be automatically removed from public index records specified herein.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

 

W. NEWTON for Committee.

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 60-2-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN PUBLIC RECORDS.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 2, Title 60 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 60-2-60. (A) Any record that gives the public notice that an eviction has been filed pursuant to Section 27-40-10 or 27-47-10 that did not result in an Order of Eviction or Writ of Ejectment must be removed from the public index and any publicly accessible file if an Order of Eviction or Writ of Ejectment is not filed within thirty days. This removal can be accomplished by order of the court or application by the defendant.

    (B) Eviction filings and records, including those concluded by Orders of Eviction or Writ of Ejectment, cases resolved by settlement, or resolved by subsequent payment for the judgment that satisfied any debt that includes personal information of a defendant, must be removed from the public index and any publicly accessible files available for public record six years after the final disposition. Files more than six years of age must be automatically removed from all records available for public view.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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