South CarolinaBill would penalize intentional interference with responders and emergency care
If the governor approves it, the bill would make intentional interference with warned first responders or hospital emergency-care workers a misdemeanor punishable by fines or jail.
What it does
People who knowingly ignore a first responder’s verbal distance warning while intending to interfere or cause harm would face a misdemeanor penalty.
People who knowingly ignore a hospital emergency-care worker’s warning and stay too close to treatment, intending interference or harm, would face a misdemeanor penalty.
A conviction could bring a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both for violating either protection.
Argument forKeeping people back after a warning could help responders and emergency staff move freely and focus on arrests, rescue work, or patient care.
Argument againstThe measure could expose people to jail or fines based on a responder’s warning and disputed intent to interfere or cause harm.
More detail
A person would be prohibited from knowingly and deliberately violating a first responder’s verbal warning to keep a reasonable distance. This applies near a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, certified EMS worker, or paramedic who is lawfully performing a duty. The person must know or reasonably be expected to know that the individual is a first responder. The person must intend to interfere with the responder’s work or attempt physical harm that could reasonably create fear of immediate injury. The responder may order the person to stay no more than 25 feet away. This rule would take effect only if the governor approves the act.
A person would be prohibited from knowingly and deliberately ignoring a hospital emergency-care provider’s verbal warning and remaining too close for safe treatment. This covers registered nurses, physicians, physician assistants, medical directors, and hospital volunteers providing care in a hospital emergency department. The provider must be treating the emergency at hand. The person must know or reasonably be expected to know that the individual is an emergency medical care provider. The person must intend to interfere with treatment or attempt physical harm that could reasonably create fear of immediate injury. The hospital emergency department determines the distance needed for safe and unencumbered treatment. This rule would take effect only if the governor approves the act.
A person convicted of violating these rules could be fined up to $500 and jailed for up to 30 days. The penalty applies to violations involving covered first responders or hospital emergency-care providers. A conviction is required before the fine or jail sentence may be imposed. The penalty would apply after the act takes effect, which requires the governor’s approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Roll call Ayes-33 Nays-6Latest
- Vote recorded to grant free conference powers. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded to adopt the free conference report. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Grant Free Conference Powers. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded to grant free conference powers. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Grant Free Conference Powers. Result: fail.Lower
- Jun 25Free conference report received and adopted
- Jun 25Free conference committee appointed Adams, Kimbrell, Walker
- Jun 25Free conference powers granted
- Jun 25Free conference powers rejected
- Jun 25Roll call Yeas-82 Nays-16
- Jun 25Free conference powers rejected
- May 14Conference committee appointed Adams, Kimbrell, Walker
- Vote recorded Concur in Senate Amendments. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Brittain, W Newton, Bernstein
- May 14Roll call Yeas-13 Nays-91
- May 14Non-concurrence in Senate amendment
- May 14Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0
- May 14Read third time and returned to House with amendmentsPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 14AmendedMajor
- Mar 26Roll call Ayes-34 Nays-0
- Vote recorded 2nd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Read second timeMinor
- Mar 26AmendedMajor
- Mar 26Committee Amendment AdoptedMajor
- Mar 11Committee report: Favorable with amendment JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 10Referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 10Introduced and read first timeMinor
- Mar 5Read third time and sent to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 4Roll call Yeas-95 Nays-18
- Vote recorded Table Amendment 6. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Table Amendment 7. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Table Amendment 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Table Amendment 4. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Passage of Bill. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Table Amendment 5. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Amendment 4. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Table Amendment 1. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 4Read second timeMinor
- Mar 4AmendedMajor
- Mar 4Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cromer, Gilreath
- Mar 3Requests for debate-Rep(s). B. Newton, Hewitt, Harris, Martin, T. Moore, Lawson, Duncan, King, Luck, Hosey, Caskey, and Guest
- Mar 3Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gibson
- Feb 26Scrivener's error corrected
- Feb 25Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Atkinson, Chapman
- Feb 25Committee report: Favorable JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 25Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Wickensimer
- Feb 24Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger
- Jan 20Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 13Introduced and read first timeMinor
- Jun 25Roll call Ayes-33 Nays-6Latest
- 2025
- Dec 16Referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Dec 16PrefiledIntroduced
Public SafetyHealthcareCriminal Justice