Legislative Session Weekly Update, April 29-May 1
In last week’s newsletter, we shared that the Senate voted 33-8 to remove State Treasurer Curtis Loftis over a decade-old $1.8 billion accounting error. This week, House Speaker Murrell Smith announced the House will not consider the resolution during the remainder of the session, citing a full agenda in the final weeks. Although Loftis told senators he only learned of the error in 2023, lawmakers argued he had a legal obligation to alert the Legislature sooner. In a statement, Loftis thanked House leadership for prioritizing “the people’s business over political theatre.” Still, Speaker Smith hinted a future response isn’t off the table.
The Week in Review (April 29-May 1):
The House debated House Bill 3645, a bill to expand paid parental leave for all state employees, and things got a little tense. But in the end, progress won out: the House passed a bipartisan measure to provide 12 weeks of leave for birthing parents and increase time off for non-birthing and adoptive parents to four weeks. A huge thank you to Rep. Beth Bernstein, Rep. Micah Caskey, and Rep. Travis Moore for leading the charge and standing up for South Carolina families. Their leadership brings us one step closer to policies that actually reflect the needs of working parents. Unfortunately, Rep. Josiah Magnuson tried to derail the conversation by objecting to inclusive terms like “birthing parent” and raising unfounded concerns about cost. We know better: paid leave is not only compassionate, but also smart policy that supports families and strengthens the workforce. This is a big win, and the fight is not over yet. The bill now moves to the Senate, and we’ll be there every step of the way to get it across the finish line. Please click here to tell your Senator to support paid leave!
We’re celebrating a major win for kids and families across South Carolina! Senate Bill 425, a pivotal bill that expands access to free, nutritious school meals for students living in poverty, has officially passed the House and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature! This is a huge win in the fight to end hunger, reduce stigma, and ensure that every child in South Carolina has the nourishment they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. At WREN, we are proud to partner with Wholespire, an unwavering leader in the push for healthier, more equitable communities. Together, we’ve worked to advance policies that put students first, and we couldn’t have done it without you! To everyone who called, emailed, shared, and showed up: you helped make this happen. Your voices were vital in pushing this bill forward and proving, once again, the power of community advocacy. With this bill, we move one step closer to a future where no student goes hungry, and every child has a fair shot at health, learning, and opportunity.
We celebrated another victory with Senate Bill 477 passing through the Senate Medical Affairs Committee. This bill is a critical update to the Pharmacy Access Act. The original law was intended to give pharmacists the ability to directly dispense contraceptives, but due to a misinterpretation, many people were still facing barriers to affordable and timely birth control. With S.477, this fix will clear the way for easier, more accessible contraception for anyone who needs it, finally fulfilling the promise of the original law. We are proud to support this critical step forward, but we still need your help! As the bill moves through the process, it’s important that we keep up the pressure to ensure it becomes law. Click here to urge Senators to move this bill to the House and get it to the Governor’s desk!
WREN also joined partners from the ACLU and Freedom to Read to oppose House Bill 4123, a bill that threatens First Amendment rights and ignores the federal Miller test standard for obscenity. We’re relieved to report that the bill was not moved out of the subcommittee. We’ll continue monitoring it when the legislature reconvenes in January 2026.
Moving Forward:
This is it! The final week of the legislative session! May 8th marks “sine die,” a Latin term meaning “without a day,” referring to the adjournment of a session with no set date to resume. So, what does this mean for bills? South Carolina operates on a two-year session cycle, so any bills that don’t pass this year can still be considered in the 2026 session. The good news? They pick up right where they left off! To keep you in the loop, WREN will host a Sine Die Webinar on May 16th at noon to discuss our priority bills: where they stand, what’s next, and how we can continue pushing for change.
As we head into the last week of session, we need your voice to help make it happen. Senate Bill 11 would fix the gaps in South Carolina’s current paid leave law by ensuring all state employees are covered. It’s a critical step toward equity for thousands of public workers who still don’t have access to the leave they deserve. The Senate has done its part, now it’s time to urge your House representative to step up and get it passed. Let’s finish strong! Click here to send a message.
Together, we can advocate for a more equitable future for women and girls in South Carolina.