The bill S. 244 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws concerning tort reform and alcohol liability. It introduces significant changes to Section 15-38-15, which now requires a jury or court to determine the percentage of fault among claimants, defendants, and nonparties in tort cases. The bill also repeals Sections 15-38-20, 15-38-30, and 15-38-40, which dealt with the right of contribution and pro rata liability among tortfeasors. New provisions are added to define terms related to alcohol sales and establish civil liability for licensees who serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals or minors. Additionally, individuals who knowingly ride as passengers in vehicles operated by visibly intoxicated drivers are prohibited from recovering damages.

Moreover, the bill mandates alcohol server training and certification, requiring that servers and managers complete training within 120 days of employment if they do not already possess a current alcohol server certificate. It specifies that servers must not be impaired while serving alcohol and outlines penalties for noncompliance. The bill also amends Chapter 59, Title 38, establishing conditions under which actions for bad faith involving liability, underinsured, or uninsured motorist claims are not actionable, particularly if insurers tender policy limits within specified timeframes. It emphasizes the duty of insured individuals and claimants to act in good faith regarding claims and includes provisions for handling competing claims exceeding policy limits. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
01/16/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
02/18/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
02/26/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/05/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/18/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/19/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/26/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/27/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/28/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
Latest Version: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23