South CarolinaS 0477126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-210, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF A "SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE" IN THE PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-230, RELATING TO PHARMACISTS PERMITTED TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE SUCH DISPENSATIONS MAY BE MADE PURSUANT TO CERTAIN WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-240, RELATING TO WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS BY THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND THE BOARD OF PHARMACY TO AUTHORIZE PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES WITHOUT PATIENT-SPECIFIC WRITTEN ORDERS, SO AS TO INSTEAD PROVIDE THE DISPENSATIONS MAY BE MADE UNDER STANDING ORDERS OR WITHOUT STANDING ORDERS WHEN DISPENSED OR ADMINISTERED PURSUANT TO CERTAIN WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS.

Sponsored By: Tom Davis (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Pharmacy access

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Pharmacists can provide birth control

Beginning May 18, 2026, licensed pharmacists at hospitals or state‑permitted pharmacies can provide hormonal birth control. They can dispense pills, patches, and rings, and can give injectable hormonal contraceptives. Service must follow a prescriber’s standing order, or the joint protocol the medical and pharmacy boards issue. Under that protocol, it can occur with or without a standing order. You must be 18 or older. If under 18, you need proof of a prior prescription for a self‑administered or injectable hormonal contraceptive. IUDs and any drug to end a pregnancy are not included. Pharmacists must act in good faith and use reasonable care.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tom Davis

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Russell L. Ott

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 459 • No: 101

House vote • 5/13/2026

(Pharmacy access)Adopt Conference Report

Yes: 98 • No: 15

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

(Pharmacy access)to adopt the conference report

Yes: 43 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

(Pharmacy access)to concur

Yes: 6 • No: 38

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

(Pharmacy access)to concur

Yes: 6 • No: 38

House vote • 2/17/2026

(Pharmacy access)Passage of Bill

Yes: 109 • No: 5

House vote • 2/17/2026

(Pharmacy access)Passage of Bill

Yes: 109 • No: 5 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

(Pharmacy access)2nd Reading

Yes: 44 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

(Pharmacy access)2nd Reading

Yes: 44 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 167

    5/27/2026legislature
  2. Effective date 05/18/26

    5/27/2026legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/18/2026Governor
  4. Ratified R 142

    5/14/2026legislature
  5. Ordered enrolled for ratification

    5/13/2026Senate
  6. Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-15

    5/13/2026House
  7. Conference report received and adopted

    5/13/2026House
  8. Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0

    4/29/2026Senate
  9. Conference report adopted

    4/29/2026Senate
  10. Conference committee appointed Davis, Matthews, and Garrett

    4/14/2026Senate
  11. House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Guest, Calhoon, and Bernstein

    4/2/2026House
  12. Roll call Ayes-6 Nays-38

    2/24/2026Senate
  13. Non-concurrence in House amendment

    2/24/2026Senate
  14. Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments

    2/18/2026House
  15. Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-5

    2/17/2026House
  16. Read second time

    2/17/2026House
  17. Amended

    2/17/2026House
  18. Debate adjourned

    2/11/2026House
  19. Requests for debate-Rep

    2/3/2026House
  20. Committee report: Favorable Judiciary

    1/29/2026House
  21. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

    5/8/2025House
  22. Introduced and read first time

    5/8/2025House
  23. Read third time and sent to House

    5/7/2025Senate
  24. Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0

    5/6/2025Senate
  25. Read second time

    5/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

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