Two Major Bills Debated at SC Statehouse

Two pieces of legislation that concern major social issues and could have wide-reaching effects across the state are being considered at the Statehouse.

The House Subcommittee on Constitutional Laws heard a new bill that could further restrict abortion access within the state, and the House Committee on Education and Public Works debated a bill that would ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the higher education level. A nearly identical bill to this one failed to pass the last legislative session.

Abortion Ban

H.3457, the “Human Life Protection Act” would further restrict access to abortion in South Carolina. Abortion is currently banned in the state after six weeks with exceptions for rape, incest or threat to the mother’s or fetus’ life.

The newly proposed legislation would further restrict abortion by outlawing exceptions for rape and incest and fatal fetal anomaly. An abortion would only be allowed if the mother’s life was severely threatened.

A provider who also performs an abortion or provides information or resources to one looking to receive an abortion could be convicted of a felony and imprisoned for up to 30 years, depending on whether or not the unborn child dies as a result of the procedure.

Physicians who perform an abortion are also at risk of losing their license if charges are brought against them for providing an abortion.

The meeting took place at 9 a.m. yesterday. Legislators listened to approximately three hours of testimony and took no vote.

House Majority Leader Davey Hiott told legislators that they should wait to pass any more abortion legislation until the Supreme Court rules on the previous abortion ban, according to the SC Daily Gazette.

DEI Bill

H. 3572, a bill concerning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, specifically in higher education is also being debated in committee tomorrow.

The act, also known as the “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act” would prohibit hiring or admission to higher education institutions based on the use of political ideology or diversity, equity and inclusion statements.

The bill would also ban colleges and universities from holding mandatory DEI trainings and “prohibiting institutions from infringing on First Amendment rights of free speech of students, faculty or employees.”

Not only would this bill ban DEI practices at all public school institutions and in state and local governments, it would also forbid these entities from doing business with any other company that implements DEI practices, which could have wide-reaching effects.

A similar version of this bill failed to pass during the 2024 legislative session.