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H4714 • 2026

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-23-170, RELATING TO ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, FOUNDATION, NOTICE, AND EXPERT AND LAY TESTIMONY, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO FURTHER DEFINE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME AND ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THERE IS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PRIOR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT AND A THREAT OF A VIOLENT ASSAULT OR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT BY THE VICTIM OCCURS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-23-170, RELATING TO ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, FOUNDATION, NOTICE, AND EXPERT AND LAY TESTIMONY, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO FURTHER DEFINE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME AND ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THERE IS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PRIOR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT AND A THREAT OF A VIOLENT ASSAULT OR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT BY THE VICTIM OCCURS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE.

Active

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Sponsor
Reps. McCravy, Edgerton and Spann-Wilder
Last action
Official status
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

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Bill History

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Official Summary Text

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-23-170, RELATING TO ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, FOUNDATION, NOTICE, AND EXPERT AND LAY TESTIMONY, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO FURTHER DEFINE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE DEFENDANT SUFFERS FROM BATTERED SPOUSE SYNDROME AND ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THERE IS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PRIOR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT AND A THREAT OF A VIOLENT ASSAULT OR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE DEFENDANT BY THE VICTIM OCCURS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE.