On Friday, almost 24 hours after Gov. Henry McMaster signed the Fetal Heartbeat Act into law, Circuit Judge Clifton Newman ruled to maintain the status quo – meaning that he would not overturn the state Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down the former heartbeat law in January.

Yesterday evening, by a 27-19 vote, the S.C. Senate passed S. 474: the Fetal Heartbeat Act. The bill — which protects unborn children from abortion upon detection of a baby’s heartbeat — now goes to Gov. Henry McMaster for his signature. The bill can be signed as early as this week.  

Today is a win for life in South Carolina! By an 82-33 vote, the S.C. House of Representatives passed the S. 474: the Fetal Heartbeat Act last night after nearly 24 hours of floor debate.

Tomorrow, the S.C. House will take up S. 474: the Fetal Heartbeat Act. The Senate passed this bill in February to protect the lives of unborn children starting at six-weeks post conception, or upon detection of a baby’s heartbeat.