[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6340417,"mediaKeyId","2259423-9ee09595622aeabecb56a91c589ab141","parentId",2259423,"title","Committee advances three bills: auditor selection change, military chaplain privilege, and higher threshold for small-estate handling","audioSeconds",722,"startMs",3931000,"endMs",4653000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259423-9ee09595622aeabecb56a91c589ab141&start=3931&end=4653","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259423-9ee09595622aeabecb56a91c589ab141/thumbnail_3931000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340417/South-Carolina/Committee-advances-three-bills-auditor-selection-change-military-chaplain-privilege-and-higher-threshold-for-small-estate-handling","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340417-98ad1cadcd39a0fd61cca3e3e9ed254f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160006&Signature=kjb3iDeA~GjPjJHGvOy8t~-kHeV7KkBPVQYY1pPWqan0QyK3w5cufgVQigSX5UJ9zCgMiJv1oCTNyDzv6zPFlk0TnMY~BTHz05GgCbxCJp8F75KphfI6RXsz0Hkbcg5OafQH7bXfmgjWEpjGcWE9CYRL3RS7jngHxK97iqwkB8HjuDsqPMyOkanCg0GRPX-7M5rDZmYWTk798jiL90osrhGjJh78qjwaIjcVO9I9ZU44igw7g5nGx052KpfAkJ0fwwd82gd3hdao1vf4MLridlQ6YSlWBOARJHB9-q4X1VK4iInso8wZuu03zFirHK-Ryuo-UNUKOhpGJ49G2MwKDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina House of Representatives","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","A House Judiciary Committee session on Monday advanced three bills on varied topics, issuing favorable reports on a constitutional-law measure about the state auditor, a bill defining confidentiality privileges for military chaplains, and a probate-related measure raising the small-estate threshold.

H 3430: Representative Jordan presented House Bill 34 30, which would change selection of the state auditor from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority (known as SFAA or SPA) to appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Jordan said the measure unanimously passed the House last year but the Senate did not take it up. The subcommittee ordered a roll call and H 3430 received a favorable report by vote of 19 in favor, 0 opposed and 5 not voting.

H 3798: Representative Moore described H 3798 as establishing qualifications for military chaplains in the state militia and creating a clergy-penitent–style privilege for certain confidential communications made to chaplains in their official capacity. The bill specifies that chaplains must be properly ordained and endorsed by recognized military endorsing agencies and states a judge or presiding official may determine that the privilege does not apply in particular cases. The committee reported the bill favorably by vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting.

H 3472: Representative Bernstein presented H 3472, which amends South Carolina probate law to raise the monetary threshold for small-estate administrations from $25,000 to $45,000 for personal property (the bill does not apply to real property). Bernstein said stakeholders agreed to $45,000 after initial drafts proposed $50,000. Committee discussion touched on local probate practice differences, how funeral expenses and insurance settlements are handled, and examples where a $25,000 threshold can be burdensome. The committee reported H 3472 favorably as amended by a vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting.

All three bills now move forward with favorable subcommittee/committee reports. The committee made several scheduling and procedural announcements at adjournment.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Judiciary Committee - Feb 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees reported favorably on three bills: H 3430 (moves state auditor selection to gubernatorial appointment with Senate consent), H 3798 (military chaplain confidentiality privilege), and H 3472 (raises small-estate threshold to $45,000).","taxTitle","Judiciary, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17507,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340422,"House panel advances amended bill to require parental consent, ban targeted ads to minors; debate centers on privacy and enforceability",3519,241000,3760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259423-9ee09595622aeabecb56a91c589ab141&start=241&end=3760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259423-9ee09595622aeabecb56a91c589ab141/thumbnail_241000.jpg","/articles/6340422/South-Carolina/House-panel-advances-amended-bill-to-require-parental-consent-ban-targeted-ads-to-minors-debate-centers-on-privacy-and-enforceability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340422-1648ae3733c0ca5f810b551ea195e09c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160006&Signature=ScacLUEVj8RZw2uzfY5abtfVb~HfTBmSJXF9yJ1jV2QU--6dL0Y4XrgQz9kr1uPth5Pmh-EP-hVXIFy~iiBY6UQWWkJe8mlu24bJvTse8g~1eOHBCDUvJFUC4TgRm80b39A8WOyooOcUTcWfMyLOFFKxirbRC2582sODPa8UFd~pkRtDHoRd5gaXfjRrbzizxywRkCtJdtgC0dJTrxg4uqu9Aw4Xbog2ziLkNc7FH66L2ME28wItc3VhhM2XVXkZ6KoDUiHcjy5obmf6xgoZ9xBNHxkI8ha5VI4P3nyKB5Z9Arbj-NjIxTKJ~AQ9ECZhRHypcgw715h1xsrv4VHv-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A subcommittee of the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee on Monday gave a favorable report to an amended bill that would require online services to verify the age of account holders, require parental consent for minors, bar targeted advertising to minors and impose data-handling and safety requirements on platforms that meet defined thresholds.

Representative Moore, the amendment's sponsor, told the committee the measure expands the original parental-consent bill to include an \"age appropriate design code\" and provisions that treat certain online services more like consumer products. He said the amendment bans targeted advertising to minors, requires default safety settings for underage users, restricts unnecessary data collection, prohibits dark-pattern design tactics and requires annual reporting on practices related to minors.

The amendment would give the South Carolina Attorney General enforcement authority, permit civil suits in state circuit court, and provides a statutory damages remedy of either $2,500 per violation or actual damages; the amendment also references treble damages and personal liability for willful misconduct in enforcement provisions. The bill as amended would require the Department of Education to develop Internet-safety and mental-health programs for students beginning March 1, 2026.

Committee debate focused on how age and parental identity would be verified, what “commercially reasonable efforts” means, and whether the state or parents should carry the primary responsibility for supervising minors online. Representative Bamberg raised repeated concerns about requiring parents to submit government-issued identifiers (for example, Social Security numbers or driver's-license information) to private companies, the risk of data retention or misuse, and practical issues for children in nontraditional custody arrangements or in state care. He also warned that state-court venue provisions and the statute's interaction with numerous federal laws cited in the amendment could prompt immediate litigation and federal-preemption challenges.

Representative Moore and other supporters said the amendment responds to documented industry practices—such as use of dark patterns and algorithmic engagement mechanisms—that they say exploit minors' cognitive development. Moore pointed to similar approaches adopted or considered by other states and the European “age-appropriate design” frameworks as justification for the measure.

Representative Bernstein said she supported the bill with the amendment but agreed some of the federal-law references and legal issues raised by members should be worked out before floor consideration.

The subcommittee voted to table the subcommittee report, adopt the new amendment, and then ordered a roll call on H 3431 as amended. By vote of 20 in favor, 1 opposed and 3 not voting, H 3431 received a favorable report as amended.

Supporters said the bill creates tools for parents and a framework to curb manipulative design targeting minors; opponents warned the proposal could push parents to share sensitive personal data with private platforms, raise enforcement burdens for the Attorney General's office and invite litigation. The measure now moves to the full committee/floor under the amended text.

","A House Judiciary subcommittee advanced an amended bill that would require age verification, parental consent for minors' social media accounts and ban targeted advertising to minors; members debated privacy, identity verification and potential legal challenges.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances three bills: auditor selection change, military chaplain privilege, and higher threshold for small-estate handling

House panel advances amended bill to require parental consent, ban targeted ads to minors; debate centers on privacy and enforceability