South Carolina is considering changes to its abortion laws with Senate bill S.27, introduced by State Senate Democratic minority leader Sen. Brad Hutto. The bill would allow abortions before the viability of a fetus and establish the procedure as a decision between a patient and their physician. Exceptions for rape and incest, as well as rights for minors to petition the court for an abortion without adult consent, are also included in the bill. The legislation also promotes access to contraceptives and medically accurate education. The bill was read in the Senate for the first time on Jan. 14 and has been referred to the Senate’s Medical Affairs committee.
This proposed law contrasts with previous legislation signed by Gov. Henry McMaster in 2023 that banned abortions once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks after conception. Currently, 12 states have banned abortions at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions. It remains to be seen if Senate bill S.27 will make it out of committee before the end of the legislative session, as hundreds of bills are pre-filed each year in both the House and the Senate. The debate on abortion laws in South Carolina continues to be a contentious issue.
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