South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Legislation Introduced into the Senate

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2025

S. 321 (Word version) -- Senator Devine: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DR. TRACIE ANDERSON SWILLEY OF RICHLAND COUNTY ON BEING NAMED 2025 NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND COMMEND HER FOR HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 322 (Word version) -- Senators Cash, Fernandez, Adams, Reichenbach, Leber, Rice, Garrett, Kennedy, Gambrell, Kimbrell, Verdin and Corbin: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "FREE TO SPEAK ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-505 SO AS TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FROM KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY ADDRESSING AN UNEMANCIPATED MINOR WHO IS A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS EMPLOYED BY A PRONOUN OR TITLE THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE STUDENT'S SEX WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF A STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, AND TO PROTECT PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FROM ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTION FOR DECLINING TO ADDRESS A STUDENT USING A PRONOUN THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE STUDENT'S SEX, FOR DECLINING TO IDENTIFY HIS PRONOUNS, AND FOR OTHER REASONS, AND TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNING BODY OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADOPT POLICIES CONSISTENT WITH THIS CODE SECTION; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-680 SO AS TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING EMPLOYEES FROM KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY ADDRESSING AN UNEMANCIPATED MINOR WHO IS A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS EMPLOYED BY A PRONOUN OR TITLE THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE STUDENT'S SEX, AND TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FROM ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTION FOR DECLINING TO ADDRESS A STUDENT USING A PRONOUN THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE STUDENT'S SEX, FOR DECLINING TO IDENTIFY HIS PRONOUNS, AND FOR OTHER REASONS, AND TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNING BODY OF EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING TO ADOPT POLICIES CONSISTENT WITH THIS CODE SECTION.

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Senator CASH spoke on the Bill.

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.

S. 323 (Word version) -- Senator Cash: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT"; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-610, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS RELATED TO ABORTIONS, SO AS TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR ABORTIFACIENT, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR CONTRACEPTION, TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF CONTRACEPTIVE, TO DELETE THE DEFINITIONS OF FATAL FETAL ANOMALY AND FETAL HEARTBEAT, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR FERTILIZATION, TO DELETE THE DEFINITION OF GESTATIONAL SAC, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR HUMAN EMBRYO, TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF PREGNANT, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR PREGNANT MINOR, AND TO DELETE THE DEFINITION OF RAPE; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-620, RELATING TO VOLUNTARY AND INFORMED WRITTEN CONSENT REQUIRED FOR AN ABORTION, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-630, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN OBSTETRIC ULTRASOUND PRIOR TO AN ABORTION, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN ABORTION CANNOT BE PERFORMED IF A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-640, RELATING TO THE EXCEPTION TO THE PROHIBITION ON ABORTIONS WHEN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXISTS, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES RELATED TO NON-EMERGENCY PREMATURE DELIVERIES AFTER NINETEEN WEEKS OF PREGNANCY; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-650, RELATING TO EXCEPTIONS TO PROHIBITION ON ABORTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST, SO AS TO DELETE THE RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTIONS AND AMEND THE STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED OF DOCTORS WHO PERFORM A LEGAL MEDICAL PROCEDURE OR TREATMENT THAT RESULTS IN THE ACCIDENTAL OR UNINTENTIONAL DEATH OF AN UNBORN CHILD, TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF THAT INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-660, RELATING TO THE EXCEPTION FROM ABORTION PROHIBITION FOR FATAL FETAL ANOMALY, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXCEPTION FOR FATAL FETAL ANOMALY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SOLICITORS HAVE THE CONCURRENT AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT, TO PROVIDE FOR A PRIVATE RIGHT OF CIVIL ACTION, TO PROVIDE FOR RELIEF AVAILABLE IN A CIVIL ACTION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR LIMITATIONS ON WHO MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-670, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO GETS AN ABORTION, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION ON PROSECUTION, AND TO AMEND THE STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSE SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION FOR DOCTORS WHO VIOLATE THE PROHIBITION ON ABORTIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-680, RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS ARISING FROM ILLEGAL ABORTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE THE CIVIL ACTION PROVISIONS, AND TO ESTABLISH A RICO STATUTE RELATED TO PROHIBITED ABORTION ACTIVITIES, AND TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-690, RELATING TO A PHYSICIAN'S UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND REVOCATION OF PHYSICIAN'S LICENSE, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO A PHYSICIAN'S UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND LICENSE REVOCATION, TO AMEND THE SECTION TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPOSE LIABILITY OR CONDUCT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OR BY SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION; BY AMENDING RESERVED SECTIONS 44-41-700 AND 44-41-710, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPOSE LIABILITY OR CONDUCT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OR BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAVE AN UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THEIR RESPECTIVE BODIES IN A STATE COURT ACTION, AND BY AMENDING RESERVED SECTIONS 44-41-720, 44-41-730, AND 44-41-740, SO AS TO REPEAL THESE SECTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 15-51-15 SO AS TO CREATE A WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION ON BEHALF OF AN ABORTED UNBORN CHILD, AND TO PLACE LIMITATIONS ON WHO MAY BRING THE ACTION; BY ADDING SECTION 59-32-30 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION ON HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT TAUGHT IN THE STATE'S SCHOOLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-37, RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF CONSENT REQUIREMENTS WHEN COUNSELING OR DISCUSSING ABORTION WITH MINOR, SO AS TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF A PHYSICIAN OR COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS THE COURT BYPASS FOR ABORTION APPROVALS DUE TO THE REPEAL OF THE COURT BYPASS STATUTES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-90, RELATING TO STATE FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE REFERENCES TO THE COURT BYPASS FOR MINORS TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-60, RELATING TO ABORTIONS THAT MUST BE REPORTED, SO AS TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR PHYSICIANS WHO FAIL TO PROPERLY REPORT ABORTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH; AND TO PROVIDE THAT SECTIONS 44-41-32, 44-41-33, AND 44-41-34, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL BYPASS FOR MINORS OBTAINING AN ABORTION, ARE REPEALED.

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Senator CASH spoke on the Bill.

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.

S. 324 (Word version) -- Senator Devine: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE CONTINUING BENEFITS AND VALUE OF MEDITATION, INTEGRATIVE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND SELF-CARE AND TO DECLARE APRIL 15, 2025, AS "PEACE, HARMONY, AND WELLNESS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

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The Senate Resolution was introduced and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.

S. 325 (Word version) -- Senators Massey and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 1-30-10, RELATING TO DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO ADD THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-145 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 37-6-103, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "ADMINISTRATOR", SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 37-6-104(6), 37-6-117(I), 37-6-501 THROUGH 510, 37-6-602, AND 37-6-604(B), ALL RELATING TO FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR AS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.

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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.

S. 326 (Word version) -- Senator Graham: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY FUEL SUPPLY ACT"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 48-6-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN FUEL STATIONS TO HAVE PRE-WIRING FOR A BACKUP GENERATOR.

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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Last Updated: February 6, 2025 at 11:44 AM