Read the full stored bill text
2025-2026 Bill 5058: Interference with workers providing critical services - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Download
This Bill
in Microsoft Word Format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5058
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. J.E. Johnson, Pope, Herbkersman, Brittain, Martin, Neese, Stavrinakis, W. Newton, Jordan, Bradley, Guest, Lowe, B. Newton, Bowers, Duncan, Teeple, Sanders, Lawson, Whitmire, Rankin, Robbins, C. Mitchell and Yow
Companion/Similar bill(s): 808
Document Path: LC-0219AHB26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 29, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Summary: Interference with workers providing critical services
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
1/29/2026
House
Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 13
)
1/29/2026
House
Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 13
)
2/3/2026
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers,
Duncan, Teeple, Sanders, Lawson, Whitmire
2/4/2026
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rankin
2/5/2026
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Robbins
3/25/2026
House
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: C.
Mitchell, Yow
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/29/2026
01/29/2026-A
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
16-7-10
, RELATING TO ILLEGAL ACTS DURING STATES OF EMERGENCY, SO AS TO
INCLUDE THAT HARASSING OR THREATENING A WORKER RESTORING CRITICAL SERVICES IS A
MISDEMEANOR, AND THAT ASSAULTING OR ENDANGERING A WORKER RESTORING CRITICAL
SERVICES OR DESTROYING OR TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM IS A
FELONY, AND TO DEFINE CRITICAL SERVICES.
B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
16-7-10
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
S
ection
16-7-10
.
(
A) In any area designated
by the Governor in his proclamation that a state of emergency exists, and
during the duration of the proclamation, it is unlawful for a person to:
(
1)
(
a) violate a provision in the
proclamation including, but not limited to, any curfew set forth by the
proclamation;
(
b)
congregate, unless authorized or in their homes, in groups of three or more and
to refuse to disperse upon order of a law enforcement officer; or
(
c)
wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any law
enforcement officer.
A
person
violating
who violates
the
provisions of this item is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must
be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than
thirty days
.
;
(
2)
(
a) enter into the property of another,
without lawful authority and with criminal intent;
(
b)
damage the property of another; or
(
c)
take possession or otherwise disturb the property of another in any manner.
A
person
violating
who violates
a
provision of this item is guilty of the felony of looting and, upon conviction,
must be fined
or
,
imprisoned, or both, in the discretion of the court. The court must order
restitution pursuant to Section
17-25-322
;
(
3)
charge unconscionable prices during a declared state of emergency or disaster,
as described in Section
39-5-145
, or knowingly and wilfully use a misleading
practice or device to solicit the contribution or sale of goods or services for
charitable purposes in connection with a declared state of emergency or
disaster, as described in Section
39-5-147
.
;
(
4)
(
a)
wilfully and knowingly harass or threaten a worker restoring critical services.
A person who violates a provision of this item shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be sentenced not more than thirty days'
imprisonment or a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or both;
(
b) wilfully and knowingly assault or
engage in behavior that could endanger a worker restoring critical services or
destroy, damage, or tamper with an electric utility system, as defined in
Section
16-11-740
.
A
person who violates a provision of this item is guilty of a felony and, upon
conviction, must be fined, imprisoned, or both in the discretion of the court.
(
B)
Penalties provided in this article are cumulative of and in addition to those
provided in Sections
39-5-145
and
39-5-147
.
(
C) For the purposes of this section,
"critical services" include:
(
1) electric and gas services;
(
2) water and sewer services;
(
3) road and highway repair;
(
4) telephone or cell service;
(
5) satellite or internet service; or
(
6) other services necessary for home
and commercial properties.
S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
----XX----
This web page was last updated on January 29, 2026 at 10:49 AM