Contribution Among Tortfeasors, asbestos

2025-2026 Bill 5636: Contribution Among Tortfeasors, asbestos - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5636
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Frank, Magnuson, Pace, Gilreath and Cromer
Document Path: LC-0240AHB26.docx
Introduced in the House on April 30, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Contribution Among Tortfeasors, asbestos
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

4/30/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 152
)

4/30/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 152
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/30/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
15-38-15
, RELATING TO LIABILITY OF TORTFEASORS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE
PROVISION THAT EXCLUDED CAUSES OF ACTION INVOLVING ASBESTOS FROM THE LIST OF
NONDEFENDANT TORTFEASORS WHO SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO VERDICT FORMS.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
15-38-15
(H) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:

(
H) A nondefendant tortfeasor shall not
be added to the verdict form if:

(
1)
the nondefendant tortfeasor is immune from liability or prohibited from suit
under statute or common law or otherwise not subject to suit in this action,
not including settled or released tortfeasors who were or could have been
parties in the civil action;

(
2)
the nondefendant tortfeasor's conduct is wilful, wanton, reckless, or
intentional;

(
3)
the defendant's liability is imputed to or based upon fault of the tortfeasor;

(
4)
the causes of action involve strict liability;
or

(
5) the causes of action involve
asbestos; or

(6)
(
5)
an action is commenced by the State, a state agency,
municipality, county, local government, regional public authority, special
purpose district, public utility, or any other governmental entity or political
subdivision including, but not limited to, claims seeking recovery of public
funds, remediation costs, or other damages arising from acts or omissions of
third parties that result in harm to public health, safety, infrastructure, or
the environment, other than claims involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on April 30, 2026 at 12:55 PM