Legislation SC Equality Is Following in South Carolina

SC Equality tracks state legislation that could affect LGBTQ South Carolinians, their families, and the institutions that serve them

Legislation SC Equality Is Following in South Carolina: The bills below are all from the South Carolina General Assembly’s 2025–2026 session and reflect proposals that are especially relevant to equality, safety, privacy, inclusion, and nondiscrimination in South Carolina. As of March 16, 2026, several remain active in committee, while others continue to shape the policy landscape even if they have not advanced.

Our goal is to help supporters understand what these bills do, why they matter, and how they could affect LGBTQ people across the state. This page is intended as an educational overview and does not replace the full bill text or official legislative record. All bill links below go directly to the South Carolina Legislature’s official website.

Bills SC Equality Is Following

H. 4756 — South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act

Official bill page: View H. 4756 on the South Carolina Legislature website

H. 4756 would require public schools and public institutions of higher education to regulate certain restrooms, changing rooms, and similar facilities based on sex, and it includes enforcement provisions and penalties for noncompliance. The bill was introduced in the House on January 13, 2026, introduced in the Senate on February 4, 2026, and is currently in the Senate Committee on Education.

For LGBTQ South Carolinians, this bill is especially significant because it would directly affect transgender students and school communities. In practice, bills of this kind can limit access to facilities consistent with a student’s gender identity, increase the risk of stigma or forced disclosure, and create uncertainty for schools trying to support student safety and dignity while complying with state law.

S. 840 — Parental Bill of Rights

Official bill page: View S. 840 on the South Carolina Legislature website

S. 840 would create a new “Parental Bill of Rights” in South Carolina education law and expand parental authority over a child’s education, healthcare, and mental health decisions. It was introduced in the Senate on January 21, 2026, and is currently in the Senate Committee on Education.

This bill matters because measures in this policy area can affect how schools address gender identity, sexual orientation, student support, and access to information or services. For LGBTQ students, especially those who may not be safe being fully out at home, legislation that broadens mandatory parental involvement can shape whether schools are able to provide affirming support, respond confidentially to student needs, or discuss LGBTQ-related issues in an inclusive way.

H. 3118 — Parental Bill of Rights

Official bill page: View H. 3118 on the South Carolina Legislature website

H. 3118 is a House version of a parental rights proposal. It would establish broad parental rights regarding the upbringing, education, and care of children; require school districts to adopt parental involvement policies; and raise the age at which a minor may consent to health services to eighteen. It was introduced in the House on January 14, 2025, referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee, and currently remains in the House.

For SC Equality, this bill is important because it sits at the intersection of education policy, youth wellbeing, and family disclosure. Bills like this can affect whether LGBTQ young people are able to access supportive resources, trusted adults, or confidential care, particularly in situations where disclosure at home could create risk.

S. 733 — Children

Official bill page: View S. 733 on the South Carolina Legislature website

S. 733 would prohibit state agencies, political subdivisions, school districts, and other publicly supported entities from using public funds to host or provide drag story hours or other drag shows attended by minors. It also creates penalties and defines “drag show” in the bill text. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and is currently in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

This bill is relevant because it reaches beyond event funding and speaks to how the state defines and regulates LGBTQ cultural expression in public spaces. SC Equality is following it closely because legislation in this area can affect libraries, schools, community events, arts programming, and broader public visibility for LGBTQ people, especially transgender and gender-nonconforming South Carolinians.

H. 3381 — Defense of Children’s Innocence Act

Official bill page: View H. 3381 on the South Carolina Legislature website

H. 3381 would classify businesses where drag shows are held as sexually oriented businesses for purposes of local ordinances, prohibit public funds from being used to host or provide a drag show, and make it unlawful to allow a minor to view a drag show. It was introduced in the House on January 14, 2025, referred to the House Judiciary Committee, and currently remains in the House.

This proposal matters because it would treat drag as inherently sexual in state policy and could have broad implications for LGBTQ expression, performance, and community programming. For SC Equality, the concern is not only the direct impact on performers and venues, but also the broader message such legislation sends about LGBTQ visibility in public life.

H. 3927 — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Official bill page: View H. 3927 on the South Carolina Legislature website

H. 3927, titled the “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act,” would prohibit state and local government offices, public schools, and public colleges and universities from promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, subject to certain exceptions. It was introduced in the House on February 6, 2025, introduced in the Senate on April 10, 2025, last amended on April 2, 2025, and is currently in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Although the bill is not specific to LGBTQ people, it is highly relevant to SC Equality’s work. In many schools and colleges, LGBTQ inclusion efforts are connected to broader diversity and inclusion structures. Changes in this area can affect campus climate initiatives, staff training, student support systems, and institutional capacity to respond to discrimination or exclusion.

H. 3121 — Live and Let Live Act

Official bill page: View H. 3121 on the South Carolina Legislature website

H. 3121, the “Live and Let Live Act,” would prohibit state government from taking certain actions against individuals or organizations based on their beliefs regarding marriage and a person’s sex. It was introduced in the House on January 14, 2025, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

SC Equality is following this bill because legislation framed around religious or moral belief can have real consequences for LGBTQ people’s access to services, equal treatment, and participation in public life. Depending on how such policies are interpreted and applied, they can shape decisions involving state contracts, public accommodations, family services, and other areas where equality and religious-liberty claims may come into tension.

H. 3160 — Uniform Antidiscrimination Act

Official bill page: View H. 3160 on the South Carolina Legislature website

H. 3160, the “Uniform Antidiscrimination Act,” would expand South Carolina’s nondiscrimination protections in several areas and specifically prohibit discrimination by an employer on the basis of an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation. It was introduced in the House on January 14, 2025, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

This bill is important because it represents an affirmative policy approach to equality. For SC Equality, statewide nondiscrimination protections are foundational: they help clarify rights, establish consistent standards, and strengthen protections for LGBTQ South Carolinians in employment and other areas of daily life.

Why SC Equality Is Watching These Bills

Taken together, these bills show how state policy can shape everyday life for LGBTQ people in South Carolina. Some proposals would expand protections and recognition, while others would affect school environments, public programming, cultural expression, student privacy, healthcare access, and the broader ability of public institutions to support inclusion.

SC Equality follows this legislation because policy decisions made at the State House have direct consequences for LGBTQ South Carolinians and their families. Keeping supporters informed is part of building an engaged, educated public that understands how legislation affects equality in practice.

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