The bill S. 746 aims to amend Section 16-3-600 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which pertains to assault and battery offenses. The proposed changes introduce graduated penalties for individuals convicted of assault and battery in the third degree who have prior convictions for any assault and battery offenses. Specifically, the bill stipulates that a second offense will result in a fine of up to $750 or imprisonment for up to 60 days, while a third or subsequent offense will incur a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 90 days. Additionally, it clarifies that these offenses are triable in magistrates court and defines a prior conviction as one occurring within five years of the current offense.

The bill also includes a provision that ensures the repeal or amendment of any law does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities that were established under the previous law. This means that any ongoing legal matters will continue to be governed by the law as it existed before the amendments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/10/2025: 16-3-600
Latest Version: 16-3-600