[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-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",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6108952,"mediaKeyId","2765210-834b7e1dfe0756144efc1550e436413c","parentId",2765210,"title","Senate session: key readings, confirmations and referrals — summary","audioSeconds",3216,"startMs",566000,"endMs",3782000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765210-834b7e1dfe0756144efc1550e436413c&start=566&end=3782","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6108952/South-Carolina/Senate-session-key-readings-confirmations-and-referrals-summary","mediaUrl","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The South Carolina Senate conducted a range of procedural and substantive actions during the session, including third readings, second readings with roll calls, committee referrals of gubernatorial appointments and the adoption or tabling of committee amendments.

Key roll calls and readings
- S.336: Third reading and passage (third reading recorded on the calendar). The Senate gave the bill third reading without recorded opposition on the floor.
- H.3814: Joint resolution to extend the surface water study committee’s scope to include groundwater and postpone the committee’s report — received third reading and advanced.
- S.233 (Second reading recorded on roll call): The clerk recorded a second‑reading vote of 39 to 0 in favor of the measure on the floor.
- S.307 (peer‑to‑peer car‑sharing): Committee amendment adopted by voice vote; bill carried over for one day to allow further review.
- S.235 (prostitution/solicitation): Committee substitute Amendment 1A was adopted; the original committee amendment was tabled; bill given second reading and advanced under Senate rules.
- S.318, S.171 and other bills listed on the calendar were carried over or placed on the calendar as noted during the session.

Gubernatorial appointments
The governor transmitted multiple appointees to the Public Service Authority board of directors. The reading clerk named appointees and each was referred to the judiciary committee for consideration: James P. Howell (Conway), John Robert Balchas (Columbia), Brian Ferrix (Sumter), Charles E. Dalton (reappointment, Greenville), Jeff Duncan (Lawrence), Stacy K. Taylor (Chapin), Hugh L. Wilcox Jr. (Florence) and Timothy M. Tilly (Georgetown). The referrals were formally recorded.

Other committee actions
- S.367: The Game and Forestry Committee amendment was adopted to refine definitions related to abandoned and derelict boats; the bill received a second reading pursuant to Senate rules.

Procedural notes
Several bills were placed on the calendar by unanimous consent and multiple ceremonial introductions and recognitions occurred during the session. The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 1 p.m. the following day.

","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Senate in Session Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate recorded multiple readings and formal actions: several bills received third reading or second reading with recorded votes, multiple gubernatorial appointments were referred to the judiciary committee, and acts such as committee amendments and carryovers were recorded.","taxTitle","Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17490,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6108957,"Senate adopts amendment to toughen penalties for purchasers of sex; protections for trafficking victims preserved",158,2654000,2812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765210-834b7e1dfe0756144efc1550e436413c&start=2654&end=2812","/articles/6108957/South-Carolina/Senate-adopts-amendment-to-toughen-penalties-for-purchasers-of-sex-protections-for-trafficking-victims-preserved","The Senate adopted Amendment 1A to S.235 to change penalty structures tied to prostitution and solicitation, tightening penalties for people who purchase sexual services while preserving the current, graduated misdemeanor schedule for people engaged in prostitution and adding protections for trafficking victims and minors.

Senator Kimbrell, the floor sponsor, said the amendment returns the penalties for people charged with prostitution to the existing graduated misdemeanor schedule but escalates penalties for purchasers. Under the amendment, solicitation by a purchaser remains a misdemeanor for the first two offenses and becomes a felony on a third offense, Kimbrell said.

Kimbrell explained the amendment also preserves an affirmative defense and immunity provisions for victims of trafficking and minors coerced into prostitution, aligning those protections with existing South Carolina law referenced in the floor remarks (16‑15‑20).

On the floor, Kimbrell cited data he described as “staggering,” saying roughly 15,000 incidents occur in York County, about 7,000 in Spartanburg and 7,000–8,000 in Greenville; he warned neighboring North Carolina’s planned enforcement changes could drive additional cross‑border activity. Kimbrell said the amendment aims to reduce demand by imposing progressively severe penalties on repeat purchasers.

The chamber adopted Amendment 1A by voice vote. The Senate then moved to table the committee amendment (which the sponsor said amendment 1A superseded); the motion to table was approved. The sponsor moved second reading, and the bill received a second reading with the appropriate vote to advance under Senate rules.

The measure’s floor discussion focused on penalty structure, victim protections and alignment with neighboring states. The amendment’s adoption marks a substantive rewrite of the bill’s penalties as it proceeds through the legislative process.

","Senate adopted Amendment 1A to S.235, keeping current penalties for people engaged in prostitution while increasing penalties for purchasers, including a felony on a third offense, and adding affirmative defenses for trafficking victims and immunity for minors.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6108961,"Senate weighs peer-to-peer car‑sharing rules; insurance, taxes questioned",399,2844000,3243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765210-834b7e1dfe0756144efc1550e436413c&start=2844&end=3243","/articles/6108961/South-Carolina/Senate-weighs-peer-to-peer-carsharing-rules-insurance-taxes-questioned","Senators considered S.307, legislation to regulate peer‑to‑peer car‑sharing in South Carolina, adopting a committee amendment and carrying the bill over for one day to allow additional review.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Klimmer, told the chamber the measure is modeled on laws other states have adopted and seeks to balance consumer protections with opportunities for owners to earn from idle vehicles. Klimmer said the measure “provides a framework” to address liability and coverage for short‑term vehicle rentals facilitated by car‑sharing platforms.

The measure’s committee amendment was adopted on a voice vote. Senators then questioned practical effects: a senator from Chester asked whether local tax structures would change; Klimmer said no, stating property taxes, registration and similar local levies would remain the same. Other senators pressed on personal‑insurance impacts and premium risk. Klimmer said peer‑to‑peer platforms typically offer insurance and that the bill mirrors the interplay that exists between personal policies and rental‑car insurance.

Klimmer said the bill draws from model language provided by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators and includes work originating with the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

After debate, the Senate adopted the committee amendment and the sponsor agreed to a motion to carry the bill over for one day to give members time to consult with stakeholders and insurers. The motion to carry the bill was made and approved.

The matter will return to the calendar after the day‑long carryover to allow additional review by members and discussions with insurers and local officials.

","Senators adopted a committee amendment to a peer‑to‑peer car‑sharing bill based on national model legislation, discussed insurance and tax implications, and carried the bill over for further review.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate session: key readings, confirmations and referrals — summary

Senate adopts amendment to toughen penalties for purchasers of sex; protections for trafficking victims preserved

Senate weighs peer-to-peer car‑sharing rules; insurance, taxes questioned