[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6308544,"mediaKeyId","2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3","parentId",2421596,"title","Panel backs new ejectment process for unlawful occupants, adopts related stay-of-execution amendment","audioSeconds",1254,"startMs",38000,"endMs",1292000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3&start=38&end=1292","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3/thumbnail_38000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6308544/South-Carolina/Panel-backs-new-ejectment-process-for-unlawful-occupants-adopts-related-stay-of-execution-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308544-a628b7b4f47a87e647b68daadc70b61d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137328&Signature=E60ypCUCEhYTQHn-vs-j5uiKVsUwkJkqmTVtOg9KKGUEGkX5gY9JpUtj5vsXSRh~Gd0pnDqcO1AQz6vhtdjZCda~WdPVd2ehBBDTepwhrp9dUluhP5Avwb~WLcmEtwGK4EdcyPrFdcLB4H2Lo8zou-X60zdiG0KOXlqh3cDuvguTQNDvxjBW6YuwtVU2Z0te3pVL8MuLNipEQvc66QDg4jNXJo4FlCjGDN6PqfJYt5RD0jrvrVW6P6QaOIJRXL2CutW7svh3IdBMXHP74sNw8xLGXLwM7q-VmMuhAwxefHWrSkL2phF5V3tFdmZR0U9wQNN9EZiWZUT-UMzIg3Rlpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 3387, a measure to create a legal process for residential property owners to remove unlawful occupants commonly called squatters, received a favorable report as amended from the Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Law Subcommittee on a 4-0 roll-call vote.

The bill, introduced at the subcommittee meeting, allows a property owner or the owner’s agent to file a verified petition with a clerk of court or magistrate seeking an ex parte order for immediate removal of an unlawful occupant if the petition establishes specified facts. Those facts, as read into the record, include that the petitioner owns or is an agent for the property, the dwelling is residential, the occupant remains on the property without authorization, the property is not open to the public, the occupant has not been a tenant or former tenant within the prior three months, the occupant is not an immediate family member, the occupant has refused to leave, and there is no litigation pending. An ex parte removal order takes effect immediately and remains until a hearing, which the bill requires to occur within 24 hours unless delay is justified.

The measure authorizes county sheriffs to enforce removal orders and grants them authority to arrest individuals at the property for trespass, outstanding warrants, or other legal cause. The draft presented to the subcommittee also creates the criminal offense described in the bill as criminal mischief for unlawfully occupying, detaining, or trespassing on a residential property; violators may face felony penalties — the bill text read at the meeting cited penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine up to $3,000 — and magistrates may order civil remedies including permanent exclusion, removal of belongings, and damages and court costs when permanent relief is granted. The bill specifies that the new procedures are separate from existing tenant eviction laws and preserves tenant protections for lawful tenants.

Representative Tiffany Spann Wilder, a former Charleston County magistrate who raised multiple procedural concerns, pressed the subcommittee to ensure the measure would not displace the existing ‘‘notice to quit’’ process used for non-tenant occupants and urged the bill be clarified so a personal representative (PR) of an estate could bring the action without always needing an attorney. Spann Wilder said, “I would like to see us make sure that a PR could come in... and that they could stand in without having to necessarily get an attorney involved,” and recommended clarifying the bill’s agent language to explicitly name personal representatives where appropriate.

Subcommittee members also discussed law-enforcement roles. Spann Wilder and others noted that constables carry out many eviction and ejectment duties in larger municipalities and asked that the bill provide concurrent authority for constables as well as sheriffs. The chair acknowledged the point and agreed that constables’ roles should be considered in a broader amendment at full committee.

During debate the subcommittee also considered an amendment that revises the Landlord-Tenant Act’s procedures for staying execution of an ejectment or eviction judgment during an appeal. That amendment requires a tenant seeking a stay to file proof of an appeal and an affidavit promising to continue paying rent during the appeal; if the affidavit is accepted, the court grants the stay, which can be revoked for noncompliance. The amendment also provides for disputed rent amounts to be placed in escrow while the court resolves the dispute and clarifies that appellate courts will not grant a stay unless the affidavit is filed. Representative Ben Wilder noted that some counties require a civil bond hearing to establish the amount due and warned that prolonged appeals can leave landlords without rent while remaining responsible for property maintenance.

After discussion, the subcommittee adopted Amendment 1 (related to the appeal/stay process) and then ordered a roll-call favorable report of H 3387 as amended. The roll-call recorded: Representative Travis Moore — Aye; Representative Jerry Govan — Aye; Representative Tiffany Spann Wilder — Aye; Representative Paul Wickenheimer — Aye. The chair announced the bill received a favorable report as amended by a 4-0 vote.

The subcommittee noted staff will prepare a comprehensive amendment for consideration in full committee to address clarified agent language, constables’ role, elder/heir-property concerns, and form alignment for magistrate procedures. No public testimony was recorded on H 3387 in the subcommittee hearing.

Looking ahead, the chair said the full Judiciary Committee would meet later in the day, where members indicated they intended to present further amendments.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Judiciary Committee -- Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee on S.74, H.3045 and H.3387 - 02/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 3387, which creates a new expedited court process to remove unlawful occupants from residential dwellings and adds related criminal penalties, received a favorable report as amended from the Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Law Subcommittee by a 4-0 roll-call vote.","taxTitle","Judiciary, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17507,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6308535,"Subcommittee advances bill criminalizing obscene visual depictions of minors including AI-generated images",559,1680000,2239000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3&start=1680&end=2239","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3/thumbnail_1680000.jpg","/articles/6308535/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-advances-bill-criminalizing-obscene-visual-depictions-of-minors-including-AI-generated-images","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308535-b51a5573be15e74123069235d0d481a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137328&Signature=Tw9OQF6fiZB1-IxCx-5kqq-IX5U6ucD12U5EnVXaLGJNF89GkGeL6595CHS1gwpF7y7um937vpS2jLrNTjAt8g27MmdzrNKQVGlJ5odQHZqXDhQ53~aSqxKmD8bbLlPfRcbzopCD-0aHkO6agp2eCmyP~Mf~NtdM8EllFUx6heXuoi3y7~5fr1stO~KhKrOZNsU0pxMKk~9ISqVHbaskJvAsXdcXOtEadqOslscC8pbN9~qPkwOFDA~zqv1o2K~tkZNg4Puf6nqvWeaS40l1EXP-3AGwpAXRLcn3QpQNSO08QIXQiUrRcx3E8cFgnhuzad3nEzOM0a-ZGIGwctjZBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 3045, a proposal to criminalize the creation, distribution, and possession of obscene visual depictions of minors — including AI-generated images and other electronically produced media — received a favorable report as amended from the Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Law Subcommittee by a 4-0 roll-call vote.

The bill, as explained to the panel, would treat as criminal the production, distribution, receipt, or possession (with intent to distribute) of obscene visual representations depicting a minor, including fictitious imagery, when the material is obscene under the law’s stated criteria: that the material appeals to prurient interests, offends community standards, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value, and is not otherwise constitutionally protected. The chair summarized penalties read from the bill text: producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing such material with intent to distribute carries a sentencing range with a minimum of two years and up to 10 years’ imprisonment; simple possession without intent to distribute is punishable by up to 10 years with no mandatory minimum stated in committee remarks.

The bill also modifies aspects of the sex-offender registry framework: the bill’s sponsors described a process that may classify some convictions under this section as tier 1 offenses (excluding minors adjudicated in family court) and clarified procedures by which tier 1 and tier 2 registrants may petition for removal after specified periods (the bill text discussed 15 years for tier 1 and 25 years for tier 2 as thresholds mentioned in committee remarks). The measure includes an explicit exemption for law-enforcement personnel acting in investigations so they are not penalized when possession or distribution is part of official duties.

Matthew Gates of the Attorney General’s Office told the subcommittee the bill “plugs a hole in our existing law as it relates to prosecuting folks trafficking in child sexual exploitation,” adding that “right now our prosecutors have to prove that there was a live victim that the images were taken of. This makes it so that if you're using AI to generate child sexual exploitation and you're possessing and distributing that, our prosecutors can take legal action against you.” The chair also offered and the subcommittee passed a technical amendment clarifying that the bill is not intended to criminalize telecommunications service providers that supply infrastructure for communications; the amendment states the bill does not apply to service providers acting in their ordinary role as carriers or platforms.

Representative Tiffany Spann Wilder asked whether the amendment’s wording would extend protections to solicitors and victim advocates who must access sensitive materials in prosecutions; the chair and the AG’s representative said the bill’s investigative exemptions and ordinary prosecutorial protocols protect essential personnel involved in investigations.

The subcommittee adopted the amendment and then ordered a roll-call favorable report of H 3045 as amended. The roll-call recorded: Representative Travis Moore — Aye; Representative Jerry Govan — Aye; Representative Tiffany Spann Wilder — Aye; Representative Paul Wickenheimer — Aye. The chair announced H 3045 received a favorable report as amended by a 4-0 vote.

","House Bill 3045, which would criminalize obscene visual depictions of minors — including AI-generated images — and adjust registry procedures, was reported favorably as amended by the Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Law Subcommittee on a 4-0 vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6308540,"Subcommittee narrows administrative-subpoena authority for electronic communications to Attorney General and ICAC",382,1293000,1675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3&start=1293&end=1675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2421596-88dc747b1c601efdb2d75c239379a4e3/thumbnail_1293000.jpg","/articles/6308540/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-narrows-administrative-subpoena-authority-for-electronic-communications-to-Attorney-General-and-ICAC","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308540-bef7c1c22685c2822d4287658508ccaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137328&Signature=igvjuiUhw6n-PsXzXjb~VcadcDeFIN9qQZ8brfG5pUNiv2BfZy6j6nwizcUamwO~g-ZM3mGw8dBMJD08ADXM3FpoS9lni5UjtJeuYgUwr2S6iLbtCgzSlTV205DiG5mi2rkxFqJY9Dvo3V0n4vUVq4JLJQMjXQSZcFlrg0OdG3tV5Pq0B4BtMdDiwQDhlXiPa-6-wtGCq75c6kWXgNXpfwHyf-omQHQ9aEwNBxfeLrWJFa8DKyhVYm3cA11OBMJ6oF9nsuckr3L1jHnnoYceqisnenKBu1TLTISYKjtrZoJIH7KpbsWowRURUvdeYlTlS6CU5~vB7VJ9jt4F3WsUuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Law Subcommittee voted 4-0 to give S 74 a favorable report as amended, adopting language that limits administrative-subpoena authority for electronic communications data to the Attorney General and confines use to investigations by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.

As introduced, the bill would have allowed the Attorney General, circuit solicitors, and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to issue administrative subpoenas to providers of electronic communication services and remote computing services upon showing that requested materials were relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. The subcommittee heard that the attorney general’s office sought this authority to speed investigations in ICAC cases; committee testimony said that, under current practice, state prosecutors often must coordinate with U.S. attorneys’ offices, creating delays that can jeopardize evidence recovery.

Matthew Gates of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office told the subcommittee the bill would be “an incredibly helpful tool for our child predator investigators” and asked for a favorable report pending questions. Members recalled extensive debate on a similar bill last session and raised civil-liberty concerns about broad administrative-subpoena language that could be applied beyond ICAC investigations.

To address those concerns the subcommittee adopted an amendment that removes circuit solicitors and SLED from authority to issue the subpoenas and grants exclusive issuance authority to the Attorney General limited to ICAC-related investigations. The chair summarized the intent as tailoring the statute narrowly to the attorney general’s investigative needs while preserving constitutional safeguards. The amendment mirrors changes the full Judiciary Committee adopted the previous year, according to the chair.

The subcommittee then ordered a roll-call favorable report of S 74 as amended. The roll-call recorded: Representative Travis Moore — Aye; Representative Jerry Govan — Aye; Representative Tiffany Spann Wilder — Aye; Representative Paul Wickenheimer — Aye. The chair announced S 74 received a favorable report as amended by a vote of 4-0.

","The subcommittee voted 4-0 to report favorably on S 74 as amended, restricting administrative-subpoena authority for electronic communications to the Attorney General and limiting use to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel backs new ejectment process for unlawful occupants, adopts related stay-of-execution amendment

Subcommittee advances bill criminalizing obscene visual depictions of minors including AI-generated images

Subcommittee narrows administrative-subpoena authority for electronic communications to Attorney General and ICAC