South Carolina Bill Would Ban All Abortions, Name Killing a Child Homicide
South Carolina Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would provide equal protection to unborn children by applying the state’s homicide laws to abortion from the moment of conception, effectively banning abortions and treating it as murder.
The Prenatal Equal Protection Act, filed in the House of Representatives, would extend existing homicide and wrongful death statutes to cover the killing of an unborn child at any stage of development, imposing criminal penalties on all involved parties, including the pregnant woman.
The bill includes no exceptions and is set for a hearing Wednesday in the House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee.
Republican state Sen. Lee Bright, who introduced the measure, emphasized the need to safeguard the lives of the unborn during a press conference at the State House.
“These children deserve equal protection,” Bright said. “I will be filing a bill of equal protection today. I know we’ve got hearts and minds to change.”
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The legislation comes amid growing calls from some pro-life advocates to move beyond regulatory measures like the state’s 2023 Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, which prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected but still allows the abortions under certain circumstances.
While the heartbeat law is saving babies from abortions, many babies are still killed in early abortions.
State Rep. Rob Harris highlighted inconsistencies in prior bills that recognized life at conception while permitting abortions.
“Incredibly, in one section of that bill, it asserts that life begins at conception, but in another section, it writes into law where, when, and how someone may legally murder a baby in South Carolina,” Harris said.
With Republicans holding strong majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, the measure could advance if party unity holds, though similar proposals have previously faltered due to internal divisions.
The push for total protection follows encouraging results from the heartbeat law, which took full effect in 2024 and led to a 63% drop in abortions that year compared to 2023 — the largest single-year decline since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s 2024 annual report, this reduction meant 5,162 fewer abortions, saving thousands of babies and sparing their mothers from potential physical and psychological harm.
Gov. Henry McMaster, who signed the heartbeat law in 2023, praised its impact as a step toward upholding the value of life.
“We have dedicated ourselves to protecting life in South Carolina, and now we are seeing the results of our efforts,” McMaster said. “The significant decline in abortions in South Carolina is a clear indication that the Fetal Heartbeat Act is working – reflecting the values of our state and our commitment to defending the unborn.”
Lisa Van Riper, president of South Carolina Citizens for Life, celebrated the statistics as evidence of lives preserved.
“These are our little neighbors who have heartbeats – the most basic manifestation of human life. This represents 5,152 babies saved from abortion and their moms saved from possible physical and psychological trauma associated with the procedure. The Heartbeat Act is foundational to creating a culture of life in which we love both the mother and her unborn child.”
She added: “This encouraging report again demonstrates that legislation saves lives and that elections have consequences.”
The report also detailed that 97.39% of abortions in 2024 occurred at six weeks or less of gestational age, with women aged 20-29 accounting for the majority.
The abortion drug mifepristone was the primary method, used 2,552 times.
Notably, black babies made up 41% of abortions despite black residents comprising only 26% of the state’s population, with Planned Parenthood responsible for 721 such cases. That shows the racist underpinnings of abortion.
Linda Plummer, executive director of the South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers, credited state funding for pregnancy resource centers since 2022 with providing alternatives to abortion.
“We are especially proud of the South Carolina General Assembly for taking bold steps to support women and families by beginning to fund pregnancy medical clinics and pregnancy resource centers across the state in 2022,” Plummer said. “Thanks to their leadership, women facing unplanned pregnancies have access to compassionate, life-affirming care, practical support, and medical services at no cost. At SCAPCC, we believe that no woman should ever feel alone or without options during a difficult pregnancy. With continued legislative support and community commitment, we will ensure that help, hope, and resources remain within reach for every woman in South Carolina.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld South Carolina’s policy of defunding Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider due to its abortions and defunding is expected to lower abortions further.
