The South Carolina General Assembly convened on January 11, 2011. The following is a list of proposed bills that will restrict reproductive health and rights. We are closely tracking this legislation; stay tuned for opportunities to take action and urge your legislators to oppose them.
Update: The General Assembly has adjourned for 2011. They will return in January 2012. Pending bills will be eligible for hearings and votes in 2012.
| Bill Number | Bill Description | Bill Status |
| H.3026 [view bill] | Mandates a 24 hour waiting period after having an ultrasound prior to an abortion. |
Referred to House Judiciary Committee. No House action in 2011. |
| H.3406 [view bill] | Prohibits insurance plans offered through a health care exchange from covering abortion except in cases of life endangerment; prohibits private insurance plans from covering abortions except through "abortion riders" paid for with a separate premium. | This bill was added to H.3408 in committee. So, now 3406 and 3408 are in one single bill. |
| H.3408 [view bill] | Allows healthcare providers and employees and health insurance providers the right to refuse to perform, counsel, make referrals for legal medical procedures or prescribe or administer drugs based on conscience objections. Amended to include insurance ban described above. | Reported Favorably from House Judiciary. Passed the House 69-41. Referred to Senate Medical Affairs. No Senate action in 2011. |
| S.98 [view bill] |
Bans abortion after 22 weeks gestation based on the premise that a fetus can feel pain at that point; requires that biased and medically inaccurate information on fetal pain be included in informed consent information. | Referred to Senate Medical Affairs Committee. no Senate action in 2011. |
| S.102 [view bill] | Prohibits insurance plans offered through a health care exchange from covering abortion except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest. | Reported from Banking and Insurance and sent to Senate floor. No action on Senate floor in 2011. |
| S.165, S.245, and S.616 [view bills] |
Establishes full legal personhood at the moment of fertilization, threatening access to legal abortion, contraception, and in vitro fertilization. | Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. No Senate action in 2011. |
