SC H3045

Creates new felony offense for knowingly producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, punishable by 2-10 years imprisonment with no suspension of minimum sentence

Establishes separate felony for knowingly possessing such material, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment

Includes AI-generated and computer-generated images by specifying the depicted minor does not need to actually exist for charges to apply

Reduces offense to family court misdemeanor when the accused is a minor with no prior sex offense adjudications, allowing for behavioral health counseling

Adds the new offense to South Carolina's Sex Offender Registry as a Tier I offense, except for minors adjudicated in family court who are exempt from registration requirements