South Carolina House Bill 4640

---

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: Introduced on January 13 2026 - 25% progression
Action: 2026-01-13 - Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Pending: House Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 20-4-20, Relating To Domestic Abuse Protection Definitions, So As To Add A Definition For "victim Advocate"; By Amending Section 20-4-40, Relating To Petitions For An Order Of Protection, So As To Allow A Victim Advocate To File A Petition For An Order Of Protection Or A Motion For Further Relief On Behalf Of A Household Member; And By Amending Section 20-4-50, Relating To Hearings On A Petition For An Order Of Protection, So As To Make Conforming Changes.

Orders of Protection

Rep. Thomas Pope [R]

Rep. Melissa Oremus [R]

Rep. William Clyburn [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-01-13	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
2026-01-13	House	Introduced and read first time
2025-12-16	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
2025-12-16	House	Prefiled

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
20	4	20	(n/a)	See Bill Text
20	4	40	(n/a)	See Bill Text
20	4	50	(n/a)	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4640&session=126&summary=B
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/4640_20251217.htm