South Carolina Senate Bill 739

---

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: Introduced on January 13 2026 - 25% progression
Action: 2026-01-21 - Scrivener's error corrected
Pending: Senate Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Draft #2) [HTML]

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 16-5-5 So As To Define Person, Funding Entity, And Riot; By Amending Section 16-5-90, Relating To Preservation Of Property Owner's Right Of Action Against Participants In Mob Or Riot Resulting In Damage To Property, So As To Include Actions Against A Funding Entity And Establish A Funding Entity Is Responsible For Damages To Property; By Amending Section 16-5-130, Relating To Penalties For Instigating, Aiding, Or Participating In Riot, So As To Include Funding Or Providing Materials As Part Of Offense; By Amending Section 16-5-140, Relating To Enforcement Of Chapter, So As To Permit The Attorney General, Solicitors, Or Their Designees To Institute Proceedings Against Funding Entities Under Section 17-25-322; And By Amending Section 16-7-20, Relating To Powers Of Law Enforcement Officers, So As To Permit Law Enforcement Officers Called To Duty By The Governor Under Section 1-3-450 Due To Riot Or Unlawful Assemblage To Use Dye Or Paint To Identify A Person That May Be Charged Under Section 16-5-130.

Incitement to Riot

Sen. Carlisle Kennedy [R]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-01-21		Scrivener's error corrected
2026-01-13	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
2026-01-13	Senate	Introduced and read first time
2025-12-10	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
2025-12-10	Senate	Prefiled

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
1	3	450	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	5	130	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	5	140	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	5	5	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	5	90	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	7	20	(n/a)	See Bill Text
17	25	322	(n/a)	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0739&session=126&summary=B
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/739_20251210.htm
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/739_20260121.htm
Supplement	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/S0739%202026-01-13%20introduced.pdf