SC Senate Republican Caucus

Senate Republicans Lead Fight To Protect Life And Pass South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection From Abortion Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 28, 2021

Legislation Clears Senate, Now Moves To The House of Representatives

 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today the South Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 1, known as the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection From Abortion Act. The legislation passed the Senate by a 30-13 vote and will be referred to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Heartbeat Bill is one of the most significant pieces of pro-life legislation to pass the Senate. If signed into law, it would ban abortions in South Carolina at the time in which a heartbeat is detectable, effectively bringing legal abortions down from twenty (20) weeks to just six to eight (6-8) weeks. The bill as passed includes exceptions for pregnancies as the result of rape, incest, or a medical emergency to protect the life of the mother. An allegation of rape or incest must be reported to the sheriff in the county in which the abortion was performed, no later than twenty-four hours after performing or inducing an abortion.

Quotables:

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey says, “Passing this bill has been a priority since day one. South Carolina sent thirty Republicans to the State Senate for a reason and this is one of the bills we hear of most often. Passage of the Heartbeat Bill will save thousands of innocent pre-born lives in our state, and strikes an appropriate balance that we feel will stand up to Court scrutiny. It has taken a lot of hard work and coordinated teamwork to get this bill across the finish line, and I’m pleased to see the bill pass with an overwhelming vote and now move to the House for a vote.”

Bill sponsor Senator Larry Grooms says, “Life is the most precious right we have. Government’s primary duty is to protect the fundamental right to life. Without life, no other rights really matter. We know that a heartbeat is the most universal and most recognizable sign of life. There is no denying the fact that when you end a heartbeat, you end a life. The Heartbeat Bill respects this fundamental right and I’m pleased to see it pass the Senate today.”

Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Danny Verdin says, “Life won in the South Carolina Senate today. The rights of the unborn deserve protection under the law. No symbol of life is stronger than a beating heart, and the Heartbeat Bill ensures that when a baby’s heart is beating, the government will not sanction that life to be taken. The Medical Affairs Committee took hundreds of hours of testimony on the matter and heard from hundreds of constituents from all across South Carolina. The members of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee have worked diligently and respectfully to those testifying and colleagues of the committee throughout this process.”

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Senate Returns To Columbia For New Legislative Session

The South Carolina State Senate returned to Columbia this week to convene the first week of regular session of the 124th General Assembly. Highlights of the week included the swearing-in of six newly elected Senators, adoption of the governing Senate Rules, the Governor’s State of the State Address, and a Medical Affairs subcommittee on Senate Bill 1.

ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION

At the start of a new legislative session, the Senate, in tradition, meets on day one to organize for a new session. One of the first acts of the organizational session is to elect the Senate President, who convenes and leads the Senate. The full Senate body votes on a Senate President to which Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney) was unanimously elected to continue in serving as the Senate President.

In his first address to the new Senate, President Peeler said, “It’s a great honor to have the opportunity to lead this body for the next four years. I don’t take your faith in me lightly, and I hope I have proved that to you. The last two years were challenging and unpredictable. It’s not what I imagined when you first elected me president but I took on the challenge because difficult challenges is when we learn the most as leaders. We need direction when times are tough…this session will be unlike any other. You chose me to be your leader and I look forward to working with each one of year to ensure this year is healthy and successful.”

Following the November 2020 General Elections, six new Senators were elected to the body: Brian Adams (R-Berkeley), Billy Garrett (R-Greenwood), Penry Gustafson (R-Kershaw), Michael Johnson (R-York), Josh Kimbrell (R-Spartanburg) and Vernon Stephens (D-Orangeburg). Republicans will start the new legislative session with 30 of the 46 members – the largest Republican control of the State Senate in more than 150 years. We welcome our new members of the Senate Republican Caucus!

MAJORITY LEADER ELECTION

Pursuant to the Senate Rules, the Majority and Minority Caucuses are required to hold election for leader at the start of the four-year terms. The Senate Republican Caucus unanimously elected Shane Massey (R-Edgefield) to continue serving as the Senate Majority leader. Senator Massey was first elected Majority Leader in 2016.

In a statement to the press, Senator Massey said, “I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for their confidence in allowing me to continue to lead the Senate Republicans into the next legislative session. We have a great team, the people of South Carolina have seen that, and have empowered us to continue to lead on the most important of issues that affect their daily lives: continuing to combat COVID-19, reducing burdensome regulations that choke success and block high-paying jobs, making state government more accountable, and protecting the rights enumerated in the constitution. We were entrusted to lead, and we intend to work hard to better South Carolina for all its citizens.”

SENATE RULES PACKAGE

The Senate additionally approved a rules package on the first day of session. The Senate rules will govern debate and procedure for the Senate until the next legislative session. Included in this year’s rules package was an improvement to the Rule 15, “Fixing a time certain to vote,” or commonly referred to as cloture. The provision offered in the Senate Republican package would reduce unnecessary delay when debating legislation important to South Carolina citizens, while respecting the Senate’s critical role to provide careful consideration of any proposed law and ensuring that every Senator’s voice is heard when representing their constituents. It strikes the right balance.

Also included in the package was a requirement that Senators disclosure earmark requests, identify which projects for which they seek tax dollars, and publish the cost of the project, and if the project was funded. This important rule addition provides improved transparency project in the budget so that you can see where your hard-earned money is spent.

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

Keeping with tradition of a new session, Governor Henry McMaster gave his State of the State Address to lawmakers on Wednesday, January 13th. The full speech is available to watch HERE.

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The Senate GOP Is Leading the Way to Support SC’s Teachers & Students

Across the state, South Carolina’s teachers are speaking up — and The Senate Republicans are listening. Republican Senators are fighting to both increase teachers’ pay and pass the SC Career Opportunity and Access For All Act. Introduced as Senate Bill 419, this bill is a crucial education reform package designed to improve our classrooms by giving teachers the resources and respect they deserve.

The SC Career Opportunity and Access For All Act will:

  • Give more scholarships for future teachers
  • Cover certification costs for new teachers
  • Guarantee a duty free lunch period for elementary teachers
  • Increase reimbursements for classroom supplies to $550
  • Reduce burdensome and unnecessary paperwork
  • Expand state-funded four-year-old kindergarten to every school district in South Carolina

Despite the opposition’s effort to obstruct and delay progress in the senate, the Republicans have moved the bill forward after nearly eight weeks of debate. The SC Senate Republicans are committed to passing this reform and continuing their advocacy for teachers and students in South Carolina.