United States Space Force

2025-2026 Bill 4586: United States Space Force - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly

126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 4586

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill

Sponsors: Reps. Gilliam, McCravy, C. Mitchell, B. Newton, Pope, Edgerton, Taylor, Schuessler, Teeple, Erickson, Bradley and Caskey

Companion/Similar bill(s): 701

Document Path: LC-0432SA26.docx

Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026

Introduced in the Senate on February 11, 2026

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Judiciary

Summary: United States Space Force
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

12/16/2025

House

Prefiled

12/16/2025

House

Referred to Committee on
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

1/13/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 30
)

1/13/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
(
House Journal-page 30
)

1/21/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
Schuessler, Teeple

1/28/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
Erickson, Bradley

2/5/2026

House

Committee report: Favorable
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
(
House Journal-page 4
)

2/10/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey

2/10/2026

House

Read second time (
House Journal-page 18
)

2/10/2026

House

Roll call Yeas-111 Nays-0 (
House Journal-page 18
)

2/11/2026

House

Read third time and sent to Senate (
House Journal-page 13
)

2/11/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 10
)

2/11/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
Senate Journal-page 10
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/17/2025

02/05/2026

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

February 5, 2026

H. 4586

Introduced by Reps. Gilliam, McCravy, C. Mitchell, B. Newton, Pope, Edgerton, Taylor, Schuessler, Teeple, Erickson and Bradley

S. Printed 2/5/26--H.

Read the first time January 13, 2026

________

The committee on House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4586) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Sections
7-15-310
,
7-15-610
,
8-7-10
, and
63-5-910
, all relating to armed forces definitions, so as to include, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

S.H. DAVIS for Committee.

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill adds the United States Space Force to the statutory definitions of "members of the armed forces" and "military service." These updated definitions will permit Space Force members and their families to receive the same treatment as the members of other military branches for the purposes of absentee voting, overseas and military voting, military leave, and family law.

This bill will have no expenditure impact on the Department of Administration, the State Election Commission, or Judicial as each anticipates being able to manage its provisions within existing appropriations.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS
7-15-310
,
7-15-610
,
8-7-10
, AND
63-5-910
, ALL RELATING TO ARMED FORCES DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE AS MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section
7-15-310
(1) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(1) "Members of the Armed Forces of the United States" means members of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force,
the United States Space Force,
the United States Coast Guard, or any of their respective components.

SECTION 2. Section
7-15-610
(1), (11), and (12) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(1) "Members of the Armed Forces of the United States" means members of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force,
the United States Space Force,
the United States Coast Guard, or any of their respective components.

(11) "Uniformed service" means:

(a) active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Space Force,
Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States;

(b) the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States; or

(c) the National Guard or organized militia.

(12) "Uniformed-service voter" means an individual who is qualified to vote and is:

(a) a member of the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Space Force,
Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States who is on active duty;

(b) a member of the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States;

(c) a member on activated status of the National Guard or organized militia; or

(d) a spouse or dependent of a member referred to in this item.

SECTION 3. Section
8-7-10
(2) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(2) "Military service" means service in the Army, Navy
,
Coast Guard,
Air Force, Space Force,
or Marine Corps of the United States or any compulsory service in any capacity to the Federal Government for the purpose of national defense; and

SECTION 4. Section
63-5-910
(A)(1) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(1) In the case of a parent who is a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Space Force,
Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or a Reserve component of these services, "military service or service" means a deployment for combat operations, a contingency operation, or a natural disaster based on orders that do not permit a family member to accompany the member on the deployment.

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on February 12, 2026 at 9:07 AM