The People's Ledger
← All South Carolina bills

H3530Introduced in the House

Magistrates' Reform Act

IntroducedHouse Judiciary

Introduced by Weston Newton, District 120

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 2-19-115 So As To Require Candidates For Magistrate Positions To Be Reviewed By The Judicial Merit Selection Commission In The Same Manner As Other Judicial Candidates Upon Vacancies, And To Define When Vacancies Occur; By Amending Section 22-1-10, Relating To Appointment, Term And Territorial Jurisdiction, Training, Certification, Or Recertification Requirements Of Magistrates, So As To Provide Procedures And Limitations On Magistrates' Holdover Status And To Require Magistrates Going Forward To Hold A Juris Doctor Degree And Be A Member In Good Standing Of The South Carolina Bar; By Amending Section 22-1-15, Relating To Magistrates Presently Serving, So As To Grandfather Magistrates Serving In Office On June 30, 2025; By Amending Section 22-3-10, Relating To Civil Jurisdiction In Magistrates Court, So As To Increase The Civil Jurisdiction Of Magistrates Court; By Amending Section 22-3-550, Relating To Criminal Jurisdiction In Magistrates Court, So As To Increase The Criminal Jurisdiction Of Magistrates Court; And By Repealing Sections 22-2-10 And 22-2-15 Relating To A Screening Committee To Assist In The Selection Of Magistrates And The Special Election For Nonpartisan Selection Of Magistrates, Respectively.

Where it stands

Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary

March 25, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

Bill history

  1. Prefiled

  2. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

  3. Introduced and read first time

  4. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

  5. Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Pedalino

  6. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bernstein

  7. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Vaughan

  8. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: C.Mitchell, Robbins, T.Moore

  9. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary

  10. Scrivener's error corrected

  11. Debate adjourned until Thur., 2-12-26

  12. Debate adjourned until Tues., 2-17-26

  13. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Henderson-Myers

  14. Debate adjourned

  15. Debate adjourned

  16. Debate adjourned

  17. Debate adjourned until Wed., 2-25-26

  18. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliard

  19. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Williams

  20. Debate adjourned

  21. Debate adjourned

  22. Debate adjourned until Tuesday, March 24.

  23. Debate adjourned

  24. Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.