Our policy focus areas are determined by our member organizations’ experience of emerging and ongoing needs at the community level. SCCADVASA strives to make sure these needs are heard, understood, and acted upon by our state legislators and congressional delegation.
State Updates
Sine Die (or the end of session) for the second regular session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly was on May 14th, 2026. Governor McMaster ordered the legislature into special session beginning May 15th to consider redistricting and to complete work on the state budget.
As this was the second year of a two-year session, bills that were filed in 2025 or 2026 but were not passed will have to be reintroduced, and start over their legislative journey again next year.
If you are looking to gain a better understanding of the legislative process and hear about some of SCCADVASA’s priorities in this past session, we encourage you to view the “SC 2026 Legislative Policy Priorities and Strategies for Change” SCKnowMore webinar from January 16, 2026 featuring Sara Barber, Executive Director of SCCADVASA.
SCCADVASA monitors all legislation that potentially impacts victims/survivors and our member organizations. The impacts of domestic and sexual violence reach far into the lives of survivors. The voices, needs and perspectives of survivors on policy making in every area of their life is critical to building safer homes and communities. We follow bills and engage with legislators on issues that range from specific bills that address the criminal legal and family court process to housing to education to reproductive care for victims/survivors and beyond.
SCCADVASA’s Legislative Priorities for 2026 included:
S. 143 (Devine, Zell, Hutto et. al) would extend eligibility for an Order of Protection to both teen and adult victims of dating violence. South Carolina is one of only 4 states that does not provide dating partners the ability to access the stronger and more immediate protections of domestic violence protective orders.
The importance of this change in definition of household member to increase availability of protection orders is supported by law enforcement data. Since 2017, SLED has reported on the intimate partner relationships in the following four crimes: homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and intimidation. In 2019, SLED also began tracking ex-boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. This data has consistently shown that 45 – 50% of these crimes are committed by individuals in a current or former dating relationship. In the 2024 report, SLED reported that 45% of the 59 intimate partner homicides in SC were committed by a current or former girlfriend or boyfriend.
S. 143 was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2025, but was placed on the contested calendar and never received a full hearing on the Senate floor.
S. 702 (Goldfinch) would significantly reform the definitions of domestic violence to include harassment, stalking and elements of coercive control in both criminal and family court, which would increase interventions and protections for victims experiencing the wide range of harmful behaviors that characterize abusive relationships beyond physical violence. This bill would also expand the definition of household member to include current and former dating partners.
Coercive Control is a pattern of acts and behaviors that an abuser uses to control a victim’s life and can be just as devastating as physical violence, even though its impact is often invisible. The recent death by suicide of Mica Miller and the alleged abuse she experienced from her husband, J.P. Miller, has highlighted the importance of a broader understanding and response to all forms of domestic violence. J.P. Miller has been indicted on federal charges related to the alleged abuse of his wife, and an additional charge of lying to investigators.
This bill received a subcommittee hearing in April 2026. It was held over for further consideration.
H. 3569 (M.M. Smith, Cobb-Hunter et.al) which created a status of protected tenant to afford victims of domestic violence the ability to terminate a lease early in specified circumstances.
This bill was passed by both chambers and signed into law by Governor McMaster on May 18th, 2026.
Policy Proposals that may have negative consequences for survivors: SCCADVASA’s consideration of all proposed legislation involves looking at the intent of a bill, whether it is necessary or if current law is meeting the need and to think through any potential unintended consequences that will negatively impact survivor safety. Policy work, especially in polarized times, can be difficult to navigate without conflict. Bills introduced with the best of intentions may, in practice, have devastating consequences for survivors. It is important to look beyond the title given to a bill to ask whether it is necessary, whether it can be implemented and what its impact on survivors will be. SCCADVASA works with many partners and communities, both statewide and nationally before taking a position, and we are always guided by what will make our communities safer for everyone.
For example, in Fall 2025, SCCADVASA opposed S. 323, legislation that would have denied women and girls access to emergency contraception following a violent sexual assault by a male perpetrator and subjected victims and victim advocates to extreme civil and criminal penalties for discussing emergency contraception and other critical health and safety needs.
