S 385 South Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act

Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "WOMEN'S CHILDBIRTH ALTERNATIVES, RESOURCES, AND EDUCATION (CARE) ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 21, CHAPTER 13 TO TITLE 24 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PREGNANCY TESTING OF CERTAIN WOMEN AFTER ADMISSION TO CERTAIN INCARCERATION FACILITIES, THE SUPERVISED PREINCARCERATION PROBATION OF PREGNANT WOMEN UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SELF SURRENDER OF WOMEN SERVING PREINCARCERATION TERMS OF PROBATION TWELVE WEEKS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILDREN, CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO SURRENDER, PROCEDURES FOR WOMEN TO FOLLOW IF THEY LOSE THEIR PREGNANCIES WHILE ON PREINCARCERATION PROBATION, AND CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Apr 16, 2026

How they voted

353
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 44
Apr 16, 2026
D Democratic12
11 Yea 1
91% Yea
R Republican32
24 Yea 3 Nay 5
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Apr 30, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Apr 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and sent to House
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment Adopted
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (35-3-6)
senate
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Corrections and Penology
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Corrections and Penology
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors