November 19, 2025
CONTACT: madison@unbendablemedia.com
SB 323 Would Have Been the Most Extremist Anti-Abortion Legislation Ever Passed in the Country
COLUMBIA, SC – All* Above All is celebrating a significant victory for South Carolinians today, as SB 323 failed to advance out of the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee. This dangerous bill, which would have imposed the harshest total abortion ban in the country while further stripping South Carolinians of essential reproductive health care, was stopped because communities across the state mobilized and spoke out, and Democrats on the subcommittee understood where South Carolinians stand on abortion rights.
In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, states across the country have enacted increasingly restrictive and extreme abortion laws, but SB 323 went even further than any ban we’ve seen to date. This bill would have:
- Criminalized pregnant people by allowing homicide charges for having an abortion.
- Punished parents, caregivers, and anyone who helps someone access care, including providing information, transportation, or financial support.
- Redefined personhood in ways that threaten birth control, emergency contraception, and IVF.
- Criminalized physicians and created dangerous delays in life-saving emergency care.
“We witnessed the bravery and unity of three Democratic senators who made a strategic decision to vote no on all amendments, recognizing that no amendment could make this bill any less harmful for South Carolinians,” said Kaylan A. Tanner, Deputy Director of State Strategies at All* Above All. “Their firm stance forced Republicans to either vote against the bill or abstain entirely. SB 323 would have made South Carolina the first state in the country to criminalize pregnant people for seeking care. We are proud of Senators Deon Tedder, Ronnie Sabb, and Brad Hutto for standing strong and protecting patients, physicians, and communities across the state.”
“Yesterday, I stood with my Democratic colleagues to make one thing clear: no amendment could make this dangerous bill any less devastating for the people of South Carolina. SB 323 would have opened the door to criminalizing pregnant people for seeking care ,something no state in the country has ever done. It also would have created a cruel and dangerous dynamic, pitting children against their own parents or caregivers by offering them leniency only if they turned in the very people who supported them in making a private health decision. That is not who we are as a state,” said Sen. Deon Tedder, 42nd Legislative District. “Our responsibility is to protect our constituents, not punish them, and I will continue to fight against any bill that threatens their health, freedom, or dignity.”
“SB 323 wasn’t a malleable piece of legislation; it was extreme at its very core. That’s why I decided to stand with my colleagues and vote no on every single amendment proposed,” said Sen. Ronnie Sabb, 32nd Legislative District, Senate Assistant Minority Leader. “This bill would have criminalized pregnant people and exacerbated an already dire health care crisis, one where doctors are already forced to call their lawyers before treating patients in emergencies. No physician should ever have to choose between providing lifesaving care and the threat of prosecution. That’s why I stood with my colleagues and voted no on every amendment. South Carolina deserves laws that protect people’s lives and dignity, not policies that endanger them.”
“SB 323 wouldn’t just harm patients, it would undermine South Carolina’s entire health care system,” said Sen. Brad Hutto, 40th Legislative District, Senate Minority Leader. “Under this bill, medical residents would be forced to leave the state just to complete the training required for their degrees, paying tuition to programs elsewhere because South Carolina’s laws would block them from learning essential, evidence-based care. And let’s be honest: if physicians can’t get the proper training here, many won’t return. Others will leave altogether. This bill would accelerate a shortage of OB/GYNs, emergency physicians, and maternal health providers at a time when our state can least afford it. No responsible legislature should advance a policy that drives doctors away and puts families at greater risk.”
All* Above All envisions a world where all people, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or geographic location, have complete autonomy over their reproductive health. This includes unrestricted access to affordable, safe abortion services, as well as comprehensive sexual and reproductive health. In short, All* works for a world where all people can make decisions about their pregnancy free from stigma, with dignity in safe and just environments. A world where reproductive justice is a reality for all.
Campaign: Abortion Coverage