Watch my remarks on the House floor explaining this amendment and why closing this loophole matters.

“If people continue to find new ways to kill unborn children, we need to continue to find ways to prevent that ”

Protecting life and ensuring accountability remain core responsibilities of the General Assembly. Last week, the House passed H.4760, legislation addressing chemically induced abortions and closing a serious gap in South Carolina law.

This bill strengthens oversight of abortion-inducing drugs by classifying mifepristone as a Schedule IV drug. That change ensures appropriate regulation, safeguards patient safety, and prevents out-of-state providers from sending these drugs into South Carolina with little accountability.

During floor debate, I addressed an important amendment clarifying that when an abortion-inducing drug is intentionally administered to another person without their consent, the offense should be treated no differently than other violent crimes already covered under South Carolina’s Fetal Protection Act. If an individual commits an act of violence that results in harm to an unborn child, the penalty should be consistent, regardless of the method used.

This legislation reinforces a clear principle. As new methods emerge, our laws must keep pace to protect victims, hold bad actors accountable, and uphold the intent of existing protections already on the books.

South Carolina has been clear about where it stands on protecting life. H.4760 strengthens that commitment by ensuring our laws are enforceable, consistent, and focused on safety, accountability, and justice.