Legislative Session Week in Review: March 28
-
March 28, 20252025 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONToday is the third Friday of Lent. In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that we are made for love. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mk 12:28-34). Click HERE for the full readings.
Sadly, the state Supreme Court has issued the next execution warrant, this time for Mikal Mahdi. His death is scheduled for Friday, April 11, at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. As Catholics, we uphold the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. Please join us for a vigil for life on the night of the execution outside the facility at 4460 Broad River Road in Columbia. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Brian Hansen at [email protected].
This week, the South Carolina legislature worked on many important bills, such as pro-life tax credits, artificial intelligence protections for minors, increased penalties for dealing fentanyl and more.
See below for the South Carolina Legislature and national updates!Mar. 25The Senate unanimously passed S. 235, the human trafficking prevention bill, sending it to the House of Representatives. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Josh Kimbrell, Matt Leber and Jeff Zell.
The bill aims to decrease demand for human trafficking by increasing penalties for purchasing or selling a human being into sexual servitude in our state. If signed into law, victims would be given immunity for crimes they may have engaged in while forced into trafficking. Each person is a beloved child of God, made in his image. We must work tirelessly to combat all forms of human trafficking in our state to uphold the dignity of all people.
The Catholic Conference thanks the Senate for this legislation and calls on the House to pass the bill quickly.Mar. 26First – The Senate Finance committee unanimously passed the Pregnancy Resource Act (S. 32) with an amendment. If signed into law, this pro-life bill would empower South Carolinians to support their local communities by providing a 50% tax credit for eligible donations made to organizations that help pregnant women and girls in crisis.
The bill includes pregnancy centers and was amended to include maternity homes like St. Clare’s Home in Greenville County, which offers housing and support to pregnant women. Learn more about the incredible work of St. Clare’s Home HERE.
The Catholic Conference thanks the committee for their work on this legislation and Sen. Larry Grooms for leading the charge. We thank Sens. Ross Turner and Harvey Peeler for their leadership in the subcommittee and committee. The conference urges the Senate to pass this bill immediately to further strengthen pro-life resource providers in our state.Second — S. 156, Fentanyl-Induced Homicide, received a favorable report from the House Judiciary Committee and has been sent to the floor for a vote. The bill, unanimously passed by the Senate in February, would increase penalties to a felony and up to 30 years in prison for drug dealers who knowingly provide fentanyl or a related substance to a person, and taking the drug results in the person’s death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and used to lace other illicit substances because it is cheap to produce and highly addictive.
The Catholic Conference calls on the House of Representatives to pass S. 156 quickly to hold fentanyl dealers accountable for their disregard for the sacredness and value of human life.Coming UpTwo bills on social media protection for minors will be heard next week in a special subcommittee of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: the S.C. Social Media Regulation Act (H. 3431) sponsored by Rep. Weston Newton, and the children and social media bill (S. 268), sponsored by Sen. Sean Bennett.
Nearly half of U.S. teens ages 13-17 report being on social media “almost constantly,” according to a 2024 Pew Research poll. Social media usage is linked to eating disorders, anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, impulsive behavior and attention disorders, among other negative effects. Social media platforms design algorithms for users to become addicted.
These bills would regulate social media companies’ ability to utilize addictive mechanisms on children and teenagers. Furthermore, those companies would not be able to use a minor’s data for targeted advertising.
The Catholic Conference invites everyone to attend the hearing on April 2 at 9:00 a.m. in the Gressette building, room 207. Join us in supporting the regulation of social media for minors.In the NationComing up — On April 2, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to take up Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, a case that originates in South Carolina. The case will determine whether Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order to stop Medicaid from covering Planned Parenthood services can remain. In South Carolina, it is not legal for taxpayer dollars to subsidize abortion.
Numerous organizations provide life-affirming medical care and choices to pregnant women and their babies. Planned Parenthood offers one option — abortion. The preborn deserve life and women deserve better options.
The South Carolina CatholicConference asks that the faithful pray for the deliberations of the nation’s justices, that they may be guided by Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, to protect the preborn and keep taxpayer dollars out of the hands of abortion businesses.
Read more about the case HERE.