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MAY 2026 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
South Carolina & Federal Session
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--- ABOUT THIS REPORT ---

When a bill is marked URGENT, we are asking you to take action by contacting the legislators listed in that bill's entry. Contacting your representatives is easy — you can call or email directly using the contact information provided, or use the 5 Calls app (5calls.org) for quick guided phone calls, or visit WREN's website at scwren.org and click the Act Now tab for SC-specific action alerts.

--- YOUR VOICE DISTRICT OFFICIALS — Quick Reference ---

U.S. Congress — District 7
Rep. Russell Fry (R)
Washington: (202) 225-9895
Grand Strand: (843) 353-5377
1500 Hwy 17 N, Suite 304, Surfside Beach

SC Senate — District 28
Sen. Greg Hembree (R), Chair, Senate Education Committee
Columbia: (803) 212-6350
N. Myrtle Beach: (843) 946-6556

SC House — District 104
Rep. William H. Bailey (R), Horry County
SC Statehouse: (803) 734-3010

DISTRICT VERIFICATION REMINDER: The officials above represent VOICE's specific districts (US-07, SC Senate-28, SC House-104). Before contacting any legislator, please verify your own district at scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php — your district may differ depending on your home address.

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PART ONE: SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BILLS
126th General Assembly, 2025–2026 Session
Session ends May 14, 2026 — Legislature may extend for redistricting

Sources: WREN (scwren.org) • LWV SC (my.lwv.org/south-carolina-state) • ACLU SC • SC Statehouse
========================================================--- S. 1095 — Unborn Child Protection Act — Near-Total Abortion Ban ---
URGENT | Category: Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Sources: WREN (scwren.org), LWV SC, ACLU SC, Center for Reproductive Rights

VOICE Position: OPPOSE

Summary
Would replace SC's current six-week abortion ban with a near-total prohibition. Performing or providing an abortion would be a felony; receiving one a misdemeanor. No exceptions for rape or incest. It reclassifies common abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV controlled substances — the same category as anabolic steroids — and could threaten IVF access. Only exception is immediate threat to the pregnant person's life.

Status
On Full Senate Calendar — Passed Senate Medical Affairs Committee April 21, 2026. Objections expected; needs 2/3 special order vote to reach floor. Session ends May 14. MOST URGENT BILL THIS SESSION.

Impact on Life
SC women already live under an extreme six-week ban — this goes far further. Rape survivors, women with severe fetal diagnoses, and women in medically complex pregnancies would all be denied care. Doctors could face felony charges just for doing their jobs, causing providers to leave the state and worsening SC's already-high maternal mortality rate. Criminalizing abortion medications like mifepristone would create chaos in emergency rooms managing miscarriages. Black women and women in rural SC — who already face the greatest barriers to care — would bear the heaviest burden.

Who to Contact
• Sen. Greg Hembree (SC Senate District 28) — Columbia: (803) 212-6350 | N. Myrtle Beach: (843) 946-6556
• Your SC State Senator — Call TODAY: scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
• WREN Action Link: scwren.quorum.us/campaign/159836/
• TIME IS CRITICAL — Session ends May 14, 2026

--- H. 4760 — Attack on Medication Abortion ---
URGENT | Category: Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Sources: WREN (scwren.org), ACLU SC

VOICE Position: OPPOSE

Summary
Would criminalize safe, evidence-based medication abortion by misclassifying abortion medications as controlled substances. This goes hand-in-hand with S. 1095 and would restrict access to the most common form of abortion care even in cases where surgical abortion might still be available. Medication abortion currently accounts for the majority of abortions nationally.

Status
Passed Senate Medical Affairs Committee; now on Senate Calendar.

Impact on Life
Medication abortion — using FDA-approved pills — is safe, effective, and used by the majority of people who have abortions. Criminalizing it would leave women in SC with even fewer options, and would also complicate management of miscarriages since the same medications are used. For women in rural SC who may already travel hours to reach a clinic, this removes the only accessible option. It also makes it harder for doctors to manage pregnancy complications, putting lives at risk.

Who to Contact
• Sen. Greg Hembree (SC Senate District 28) — Columbia: (803) 212-6350 | N. Myrtle Beach: (843) 946-6556
• Your SC State Senator — scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
• WREN Action Link: scwren.quorum.us/campaign/152544/

--- S. 385 — Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education (CARE) Act ---
Category: Women's Rights
Sources: WREN (scwren.org), LWV SC, ACLU SC

VOICE Position: SUPPORT

Summary
Allows pregnant women entering the SC jail or prison system to be released on bail for the duration of their pregnancy and 12 weeks after birth of their child, provided they are not a threat to themselves or others. A pregnancy test is offered upon admission.

Status
ENACTED — Passed SC House April 30, 2026. Signed into law.

Impact on Life
Pregnant women in jails and prisons face dangerous conditions — inadequate prenatal care, stress, poor nutrition, and risk during labor and delivery. This law gives eligible pregnant women who pose no public safety risk the chance to have a safe, healthy pregnancy outside incarceration, and provides 12 weeks to bond with and care for their newborn. For SC families, this means fewer babies separated from their mothers at birth and better health outcomes for both. It is a compassionate, common-sense policy with strong bipartisan support.

--- H. 3310 / H. 3643 — Voter Restriction Bills — Primary Participation Restrictions ---
Category: Voter's Rights
Sources: WREN (scwren.org), LWV SC

VOICE Position: OPPOSE

Summary
These bills would restrict participation in South Carolina primary elections by tying meaningful voting access to party affiliation. Independent or unaffiliated voters would only be able to vote in a primary if a political party voluntarily chose to open its primary to them. In SC, where many races are decided in the primaries, this effectively locks out independent voters from the most consequential elections.

Status
In SC House — Active this session.

Impact on Life
In SC, many legislative races are decided in the Republican primary — the general election is often a formality. Locking independent voters out of primaries means millions of SC residents, including many women who do not identify with either major party, would lose their most meaningful opportunity to influence who represents them. WREN notes this directly shrinks the political power needed to advocate for economic justice and reproductive freedom. Women's groups and advocacy organizations that are nonpartisan could see their members' voices effectively silenced.

Who to Contact
• Rep. William H. Bailey (SC House District 104) — SC Statehouse: (803) 734-3010
• Your SC State Representative — find at scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
• SC House Speaker: Murrell Smith — (803) 212-6810

--- H. 3309 — Energy Regulation Bill — Utility Rate & Clean Energy ---
Category: Environmental Issues
Sources: LWV SC (my.lwv.org/south-carolina-state), Post & Courier

VOICE Position: OPPOSE

Summary
A sweeping energy regulation bill that critics say gives large corporations like Meta and Google reduced electric rates while allowing utility companies to raise residential customer rates annually without full Public Service Commission review. It weakens environmental and regulatory oversight and blocks clean energy solutions. Related bills S. 902, S. 867, and S. 446 raise similar concerns. LWV SC actively testified against provisions that remove consumer protections and favor utilities over the public.

Status
ENACTED — Signed into law during the current session.

Impact on Life
Every SC household pays electric bills. This law allows utility companies to raise rates without fully justifying the increases to regulators, shifting costs to families and small businesses while large tech corporations get discounted rates. For women managing household budgets — especially low-income women and single mothers — rising utility bills hit hardest. The weakening of environmental review processes also means new energy infrastructure, like the proposed gas plant at a retired coal site in Colleton County, could be built without adequate public input or environmental safeguards, affecting air and water quality in surrounding communities.

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PART TWO: FEDERAL BILLS & LAWS
119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026)
SC District 7: Rep. Russell Fry (202) 225-9895
Sen. Tim Scott (202) 224-6121 • Sen. Lindsey Graham (202) 224-5972
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--- H.R. 22 — SAVE Act — Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act ---
URGENT | Category: Voter's Rights
Sources: Vote.org, Campaign Legal Center, LWV US, NPR, Congress.gov

VOICE Position: OPPOSE

Summary
Requires all voters to present physical documentary proof of U.S. citizenship — such as a passport or certified birth certificate — when registering to vote in federal elections. Passed the House in April 2025 and again in February 2026. Now actively debated in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. A Senate amendment would also significantly restrict mail-in voter registration.

Status
In U.S. Senate — Actively debated as of May 2026. Needs 60 votes to overcome filibuster. Senate vote could happen any week.

Impact on Life
Up to 69 million American women who changed their names after marriage have birth certificates that don't match their current IDs — creating an enormous registration obstacle. Only about 43% of Americans have passports. Online and mail voter registration — used by millions of SC women — would be effectively eliminated. Election workers could face up to 5 years in prison for registering an eligible citizen without the correct paperwork. Studies consistently show that noncitizen voting is already illegal and exceedingly rare; this bill creates major barriers for real citizens while solving a problem that does not exist.

Who to Contact
• U.S. Senator Tim Scott — (202) 224-6121 | Columbia: (803) 771-6112 — CALL TODAY
• U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham — (202) 224-5972 | Columbia: (803) 933-0112 — CALL TODAY
• Senate is actively deliberating — this is the most time-sensitive federal call to action

--- H.R. 12 — Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 ---
Category: Abortion & Reproductive Rights / Women's Rights
Sources: Congress.gov, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Guttmacher Institute

VOICE Position: SUPPORT

Summary
Would establish a federal statutory right to provide and access abortion services, and protect the right to travel across state lines for abortion care. It would prohibit states from imposing medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion — such as mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling requirements, and targeted clinic shutdown laws.

Status
In U.S. House Committee — Referred to Energy and Commerce and Judiciary Committees. A companion Senate bill has also been introduced.

Impact on Life
For SC women, this bill would be transformative. SC's six-week ban — and the potential near-total ban in S. 1095 — would be superseded by federal protections. Women in SC would no longer be forced to travel out of state or be denied care in emergencies. The right to travel for abortion care — which SC legislators have threatened to restrict — would be protected by federal law. Even if unlikely to pass now, building public and congressional support for this bill is critical groundwork for when the legislative landscape shifts.

Who to Contact
• Rep. Russell Fry (U.S. District 7) — Washington: (202) 225-9895 | Grand Strand: (843) 353-5377
• Use the 5 Calls app or WREN 'Act Now' tab to contact your representatives easily

--- S. 422 — Right to Contraception Act ---
Category: Women's Rights / Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Sources: Congress.gov, LWV US, Planned Parenthood

VOICE Position: SUPPORT

Summary
Would establish a federal right for individuals to access contraceptives and for healthcare providers to provide them — protecting birth control access nationwide from potential state or federal restrictions. Referred to the Senate HELP Committee. A House companion bill has also been introduced.

Status
In U.S. Senate Committee — Referred to HELP Committee. Senate Republicans have already blocked one floor vote on this issue.

Impact on Life
With the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision having called into question other privacy-based rights, access to contraception is no longer considered legally settled. Several states have introduced legislation restricting contraception, and the SC near-total abortion ban (S. 1095) could affect access to IUDs and emergency contraception. A federal right to contraception would protect SC women regardless of what happens at the state level. For the one in three American women who rely on prescription contraception, this bill is a critical safeguard.

Who to Contact
• U.S. Senator Tim Scott — (202) 224-6121 | urge him to support and allow a Senate vote
• U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham — (202) 224-5972
• Rep. Russell Fry (U.S. District 7) — Washington: (202) 225-9895

--- H.R. 49 — Defund HHS Reproductive Healthcare Access Task Force ---
Category: Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Sources: Congress.gov, Women's Congressional Policy Institute

VOICE Position: OPPOSE

Summary
Would prohibit federal funds from being used for the HHS Reproductive Healthcare Access Task Force — one of the few remaining federal mechanisms coordinating access to reproductive care after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade.

Status
In U.S. House Committee — Referred to Energy and Commerce Committee.

Impact on Life
SC already has one of the most restrictive abortion environments in the country. The HHS Task Force has been a critical federal resource helping women navigate the post-Roe patchwork of state laws — including coordinating care for those forced to travel out of state. Defunding it removes an essential federal safety net for SC women seeking reproductive healthcare, and signals a complete federal withdrawal from protecting reproductive care access.

Who to Contact
• Rep. Russell Fry (U.S. District 7) — Washington: (202) 225-9895 | Grand Strand: (843) 353-5377
• U.S. Senator Tim Scott — (202) 224-6121
• U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham — (202) 224-5972

--- EPA Endangerment Finding Repeal ---
EPA Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding & Congressional Response
Category: Environmental Issues
Sources: EPA Federal Register, World Resources Institute, LCV Scorecard 2025, Climate Action Campaign

VOICE Position: OPPOSE EPA rollback | SUPPORT Congressional response legislation

Summary
On February 12, 2026, the EPA finalized a rule overturning its own "endangerment finding" — the 16-year-old scientific and legal basis requiring the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. Congressional Democrats have introduced resolutions of disapproval and legislation to restore EPA's authority, including the Clean Air Protection Act. A proposed 52% EPA budget cut for FY2027 would further devastate the agency's enforcement capacity.

Status
EPA Rule Finalized Feb. 2026 — Congressional response bills introduced; lawsuits filed by public health and environmental organizations. FY2027 EPA budget battle ongoing.

Impact on Life
Without the endangerment finding, the federal government loses its legal obligation to regulate greenhouse gases — affecting air quality, extreme heat, flooding, and storms. For SC families, rising electricity costs, more severe hurricanes and flooding, and worsening air quality are direct consequences. Women and children are disproportionately affected by air pollution and climate-related health impacts. The proposed EPA budget cut would also gut enforcement of clean water and toxic chemical rules, threatening SC's drinking water.

Who to Contact
• U.S. Senator Tim Scott — (202) 224-6121 | urge support for Clean Air Protection legislation
• U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham — (202) 224-5972
• Rep. Russell Fry (U.S. District 7) — Washington: (202) 225-9895
• LWV SC: lwv.org/climate | Sierra Club SC: sierraclub.org/south-carolina

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PART THREE: BILL STATUS TRACKER
Updated monthly. Bills are removed approximately two months after they have been
signed into law, vetoed, or have died in the House or Senate.
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SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BILLS

Bill No. | Bill Name | Status
S. 1095 | Unborn Child Protection Act (Near-Total Ban) | On Full Senate Calendar — May 2026
H. 4760 | Attack on Medication Abortion | Passed Senate Medical Affairs Committee — On Senate Calendar
S. 385 | Women's CARE Act | Enacted into law — April 30, 2026
H. 3310 / H. 3643 | Voter Restriction Bills | In SC House — Active
H. 3309 | Energy Regulation / Utility Rate Bill | Enacted into law — current session

FEDERAL BILLS

Bill No. | Bill Name | Status
H.R. 22 | SAVE Act — Voter Eligibility Act | In U.S. Senate — Active debate, filibuster pending
H.R. 12 | Women's Health Protection Act | In U.S. House Committee
S. 422 | Right to Contraception Act | In U.S. Senate HELP Committee
H.R. 49 | Defund HHS Reproductive Healthcare Task Force | In U.S. House Committee
EPA Rule | EPA Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding Repeal | Rule Finalized Feb. 2026 — Congressional response pending

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SOURCES & RESOURCES
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SC State Legislators: scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
Federal: house.gov & senate.gov

Key SC Resources:
scwren.org | my.lwv.org/south-carolina-state | aclusc.org | 5calls.org

Sources: WREN (scwren.org) • LWV SC (my.lwv.org/south-carolina-state) • ACLU SC (aclusc.org)
SC Statehouse (scstatehouse.gov) • KFF • Congress.gov • LWV US • NPR
Campaign Legal Center • Guttmacher Institute

VOICE Legislative Committee | Report: May 2026