Senate adopts amendments to Halo Act to extend protections to health workers and first responders

Senators considered the committee amendment to House Bill 47 63 (commonly referenced on the floor as the Halo Act). The committee amendment, explained by Senator Adams (Berkeley), restored a misdemeanor penalty (up to $500 or 30 days jail), added protections for health-care workers and first responders, and removed a rigid 25-foot barrier in favor of requiring that bystanders stand a "reasonable distance" from first responders performing duties.

Senator Hembry (Horry), who offered an amendment, described extending protections to health-care workers while acknowledging spatial constraints that make a fixed 25-foot buffer impractical in some settings; he said the language would not bar recording and was intended to protect first responders' ability to do their jobs. Several senators questioned how the standard would be enforced and whether First Amendment-protected activity like filming would still be permitted; proponents said the amendment preserves recording and core speech rights while addressing interfering conduct.

The committee amendment was adopted by the Senate. A second-reading roll call for the bill followed; the clerk reported a vote of 34 to 0 in favor of giving the bill a second reading on the floor.

What happens next: The bill, as amended, received a second reading and will proceed through the next steps of the legislative calendar (further debate, committees or special order as appropriate). Journaled amendments and adopted committee language will be part of the bill text for future consideration.