# South Carolina H 4757: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59, TO AFFIRM AND ENUMERATE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT MINIMUM STANDARDS TO IMPLEMENT PARENTAL RIGHTS AND A RELATED MODEL PARENTAL RIGHTS POLICY, TO PROVIDE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES SHALL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT RELATED POLICIES, TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR A LIMITED PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION UPON EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-5-340, RELATING TO MINOR CONSENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES, SO AS TO CLARIFY, STRENGTHEN, AND EXPAND REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTAL CONSENT FOR NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MINORS, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS ALLEGED BY PARENTS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-350 RELATING TO FURNISHING HEALTH SERVICES TO MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT; BY DESIGNATING THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59 AS "GENERAL PROVISIONS"; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-370 RELATING TO CERTAIN CONSENT NOT BEING SUBJECT TO DISAFFIRMANCE.

South Carolina H 4757, A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59, TO AFFIRM AND ENUMERATE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT MINIMUM STANDARDS TO IMPLEMENT PARENTAL RIGHTS AND A RELATED MODEL PARENTAL RIGHTS POLICY, TO PROVIDE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES SHALL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT RELATED POLICIES, TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR A LIMITED PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION UPON EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-5-340, RELATING TO MINOR CONSENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES, SO AS TO CLARIFY, STRENGTHEN, AND EXPAND REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTAL CONSENT FOR NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MINORS, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS ALLEGED BY PARENTS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-350 RELATING TO FURNISHING HEALTH SERVICES TO MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT; BY DESIGNATING THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59 AS "GENERAL PROVISIONS"; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-370 RELATING TO CERTAIN CONSENT NOT BEING SUBJECT TO DISAFFIRMANCE., is a 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-02-24 (Referred to Committee on Education) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4757-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: South Carolina H 4757
- State: South Carolina
- Session: 126th General Assembly (2025-2026)
- Title: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59, TO AFFIRM AND ENUMERATE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT MINIMUM STANDARDS TO IMPLEMENT PARENTAL RIGHTS AND A RELATED MODEL PARENTAL RIGHTS POLICY, TO PROVIDE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES SHALL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT RELATED POLICIES, TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR A LIMITED PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION UPON EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-5-340, RELATING TO MINOR CONSENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES, SO AS TO CLARIFY, STRENGTHEN, AND EXPAND REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTAL CONSENT FOR NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MINORS, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS ALLEGED BY PARENTS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-350 RELATING TO FURNISHING HEALTH SERVICES TO MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT; BY DESIGNATING THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59 AS "GENERAL PROVISIONS"; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-370 RELATING TO CERTAIN CONSENT NOT BEING SUBJECT TO DISAFFIRMANCE.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-16
- Last action: 2026-02-24, Referred to Committee on Education
- Sponsor: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 62
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (527 yes, 135 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Parental Rights

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brandon Newton (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William H. Bailey (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Phillip Bowers (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jeff Bradley (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gary S. Brewer, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Cody T. Mitchell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Donald G. "Don" Chapman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Chumley (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Heather Ammons Crawford (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: April Cromer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dianne Mitchell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sylleste H. Davis (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Adam L. Duncan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sarita L. Edgerton (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Shannon S. Erickson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Craig A. Gagnon (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gil Gatch (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas Lee Gilreath (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brandon Guffey (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Patrick B. Haddon (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kevin Hardee (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Charles V. Hartz (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William G. "Bill" Herbkersman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Lee Hewitt (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: David R. Hiott (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Hixon (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Harriet A. Holman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John T. Lastinger, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: M. Brian Lawson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Steven Wayne Long (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Phillip D. Lowe (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin "Mark" Smith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Josiah Magnuson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: David Martin (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John R. McCravy III (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Melissa Lackey Oremus (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Fawn M. Pedalino (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robby Robbins (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Richard Blake Sanders (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Carla M. Schuessler (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Heath Sessions (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Travis A. Moore (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bill Taylor (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: James E. Teeple (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jackie R. Terribile (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: David Vaughan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Wm. Weston J. Newton (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joseph S. "Joe" White (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William R. "Bill" Whitmire (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Paul B. Wickensimer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mark N. Willis (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Chris Wooten (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Richard L. "Richie" Yow (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-19 | House | (Parental Rights)Passage of Bill | pass | 105 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | (Parental Rights)Table Motion to Adjourn Debate | pass | 82 | 31 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | (Parental Rights)Passage of Bill | pass | 116 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | (Parental Rights)Adopt Amendment 23 Amendment number 23 | pass | 77 | 28 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | (Parental Rights)Table Amendment 12 Amendment number 12 | pass | 80 | 28 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | (Parental Rights)Table Amendment 4 Amendment number 4 | pass | 67 | 46 |   |

## Actions (22)

- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Education (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Introduced and read first time (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-1 (House)
- 2026-02-19: Read third time and sent to Senate (House)
- 2026-02-19: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature)
- 2026-02-18: Roll call Yeas-116 Nays-1 (House)
- 2026-02-18: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-18: Amended (House)
- 2026-02-12: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature)
- 2026-02-12: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers (House)
- 2026-02-11: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature)
- 2026-02-11: Requests for debate-Rep (House)
- 2026-02-11: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Chapman (House)
- 2026-02-10: Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House)
- 2026-01-21: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Guffey, Lastinger (House)
- 2026-01-20: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilreath (House)
- 2026-01-15: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: D.Mitchell, Cromer (House)
- 2026-01-14: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: White, Sanders (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House)
- 2026-01-13: Introduced and read first time (House)
- 2025-12-16: Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House)
- 2025-12-16: Prefiled (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [HTML](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4757.htm)

## Related bills

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- S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATIO… (signed)
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## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4757.htm)

## Related
- [S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO AL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0623-2025-2026)
- [S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0586-2025-2026)
- [H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD O…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5653-2025-2026)
- [S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDU…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S1062-2025-2026)
- [S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0779-2025-2026)
- [H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5261-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4757-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).