Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, penalties AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-395, RELATING TO FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY FOR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS WHO VIOLATE THE STATUTE; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-405, RELATING TO SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM PENALTY TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY FOR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS WHO VIOLATE THE STATUTE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-410, RELATING TO THIRD DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, SO AS TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF IMAGES POSSESSED, INCLUDING A PENALTY OF UP TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE ONE TO TWENTY-FIVE IMAGES, ONE TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE TWENTY-SIX TO TWO HUNDRED FIFTY IMAGES, AND A PENALTY OF TWO TO TEN YEARS IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY IMAGES; AND TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM PENALTY OF FIVE YEARS FOR A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER WHO VIOLATES THE STATUTE - RATIFIED TITLEView full text View Vote History View Fiscal Impact12/16/25House Prefiled12/16/25House Referred to Committee on Judiciary01/13/26House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 95)01/13/26House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 95)01/20/26House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White01/28/26House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cromer, Edgerton, Burns, Beach, Morgan, Terribile, Pace, Kilmartin, Gilreath, Magnuson, Frank, McCravy, Hartz, D.Mitchell, Haddon, Willis, Wickensimer, Vaughan, Pedalino, Chumley02/05/26House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Govan03/25/26House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger, C.Mitchell, Yow, Guffey03/26/26House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (House Journal-page 4)03/31/26House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers, Ligon, Chapman, B.Newton, W.Newton, Forrest, Oremus, Gibson03/31/26House Amended (House Journal-page 259)03/31/26House Read second time (House Journal-page 259)03/31/26House Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 262)04/01/26House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 17)04/01/26Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 19)04/01/26Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 19)04/29/26Senate Recalled from Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 6)05/06/26Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 96)05/06/26Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 96)05/06/26Senate Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 96)05/07/26Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 18)05/13/26House Senate amendment amended (House Journal-page 174)05/13/26House Returned to Senate with amendments (House Journal-page 174)05/13/26House Roll call Yeas-111 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 179)05/13/26Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 40)05/14/26 Ratified R 20405/18/26 Signed By Governor06/02/26 Effective date 05/18/2606/02/26 Act No. 189