South Carolina House Joint Resolution 4716

---

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)
Status: Introduced on January 13 2026 - 25% progression
Action: 2026-01-20 - Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White
Pending: House Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Amend Section 26, Article V Of The Constitution Of South Carolina, 1895, Relating To The Appointment Of Magistrates, So As To Provide That They Shall Be Appointed By The Governor By And With The Advice And Consent Of The General Assembly Rather Than By The Advice And Consent Of The Senate; To Provide For A Majority Vote Of Each Chamber Of The General Assembly; To Delete Provisions Providing The General Assembly Shall Provide For Magistrates' Terms Of Office And Their Civil And Criminal Jurisdiction; And To Provide For Terms Of Office Of Magistrates Of Four Years And Until Their Successors Are Appointed And Qualified.

Constitutional Amendment

Rep. Melissa Oremus [R]

Rep. Thomas Pope [R]

Rep. Joe White [R]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-01-20	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White
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

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4716&session=126&summary=B
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/4716_20251217.htm