This week, Gov. Henry McMaster signed dozens of bills into law, bringing many Catholic priorities over the finish line in South Carolina. Among these was the “Help, Not Harm” bill that will ensure minors are not given gender transition medications or procedures such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

South Carolina is now the 25th state in the nation to pass this type of legislation.  
In a post on the social platform X, Gov. McMaster said, “I signed the Help Not Harm bill into law, which protects our state’s children from irreversible gender transition procedures and bans public funds from being used for them. I look forward to joining legislators and supporters at a ceremonial bill signing in the Upstate next week.”

Michael F. Acquilano, director of the South Carolina Catholic Conference, said the organization “is relieved that children will soon be protected from the harmful effects of gender transition practices. In recent years, we have seen more and more children being given cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers and even mastectomies and other sex-change operations. It is unconscionable to do this to our children. We must allow them to go through puberty naturally without altering their healthy bodies.”

Other bills that were signed this week include: 

• H. 3424: Child Online Safety Act, a bill that safeguards minors from explicit, pornographic websites by requiring sites to verify the ages of patrons. 
• S. 445: Recovery Housing, a bill that funds and builds infrastructure to assist men and women in their recovery from addiction. 
• H. 4617: Xylazine, a bill that criminalizes the production, distribution and possession of the drug xylazine and adds it to the list of Schedule III drugs. 

The Catholic Conference thanks the governor for signing important legislation into law and our senators and representatives who have worked to protect the vulnerable and underserved across our state.

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9).