Legislative Session Weekly Update, January 14-16
The South Carolina General Assembly kicked off its 2025 Legislative Session Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, at noon. The first week of the two-year session began largely with organizational meetings, but also saw discussions on reinstating private school vouchers (S. 62) and the Speaker of the House’s high profile Energy Security Act (H. 3309).
The Week in Review (January 14 – January 16):
On Thursday, Democratic Representative Will Wheeler announced his immediate resignation to run for a Circuit Court judgeship in 2026, adhering to new rules requiring a one-year gap between elected office and judicial candidacy. This follows Democratic Representative Marvin Pendarvis’ resignation last September, leaving two vacancies in the House. A special election for Pendarvis’ former seat is scheduled for March.
The real-world consequences of South Carolina’s abortion ban came into focus last week. Christine Glang, located in the Upstate, was denied miscarriage treatment statewide and was forced to seek care in Virginia that costs thousands of dollars. Senator Josh Kimbrell, a co-author of the ban, addressed the case to his colleagues in the Senate, claiming it was a misinterpretation by doctors. At WREN, we know that if this ban remains in place, South Carolinians will face barriers to essential, timely medical care. Our commitment to protecting access to comprehensive healthcare remains a top priority.
Moving Forward:
While no formal action was taken on our priority bills last week, we engaged in productive conversations with legislators and partners about advancing our agenda on economic justice and reproductive freedom.
This Week (January 21 – January 23):
- The House will be in perfunctory session, which means the House will work on limited, if any, legislation.
- The Senate will focus on subcommittee and committee work instead of full floor debates.
- We will continue to monitor developments, advocate for critical issues, and keep you informed as the session unfolds.
Together, we can advocate for a more equitable future for women and girls in South Carolina.