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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

S 385: Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

S 385 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate on February 26, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act. Primary sponsor: Tameika Isaac Devine (Democratic), Overture Walker (Democratic), Jeff Zell (Republican), Darrell Jackson (Democratic), Deon Tedder (Democratic), Billy Garrett (Republican), Karl Allen (Democratic), Ronnie Sabb (Democratic), Margie Bright Matthews (Democratic), Ed Sutton (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (April 30, 2026): Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "WOMEN'S CHILDBIRTH ALTERNATIVES, RESOURCES, AND EDUCATION (CARE) ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 21, CHAPTER 13 TO TITLE 24 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PREGNANCY TESTING OF CERTAIN WOMEN AFTER ADMISSION TO CERTAIN INCARCERATION FACILITIES, THE SUPERVISED PREINCARCERATION PROBATION OF PREGNANT WOMEN UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SELF SURRENDER OF WOMEN SERVING PREINCARCERATION TERMS OF PROBATION TWELVE WEEKS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILDREN, CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO SURRENDER, PROCEDURES FOR WOMEN TO FOLLOW IF THEY LOSE THEIR PREGNANCIES WHILE ON PREINCARCERATION PROBATION, AND CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 8 · Republican 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Tameika Isaac DevinePrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate19
Overture WalkerPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate22
Jeff ZellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate36
Darrell JacksonPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate21
Deon TedderPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate42
Billy GarrettPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate10
Karl AllenPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate7
Ronnie SabbPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate32
Margie Bright MatthewsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate45
Ed SuttonPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate20

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  2. Introduced and read first time
  3. Read third time and sent to House
  4. Roll call Ayes-35 Nays-4
  5. Read second time
  6. Committee Amendment Adopted
  7. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Corrections and Penology
  8. Referred to Committee on Corrections and Penology
  9. Introduced and read first time

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source