S 0840 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59 SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS PERTAINING TO PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION; TO AFFIRM AND ENUMERATE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT MINIMUM STANDARDS TO IMPLEMENT PARENTAL RIGHTS; TO REQUIRE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT RELATED POLICIES; TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR A LIMITED PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION UPON EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-5-340, RELATING TO A MINOR'S CONSENT TO HEALTH SERVICES, SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS PERTAINING TO A MINOR'S CONSENT TO HEALTH SERVICES, TO EXPAND REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTAL CONSENT FOR NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MINORS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS ALLEGED BY PARENTS; BY DESIGNATING THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59 AS "GENERAL PROVISIONS"; BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-350 RELATING TO HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 63-5-370 RELATING TO THE PROVISION THAT ANY CONSENT GIVEN PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO DISAFFIRMANCE BECAUSE OF MINORITY WHEN SUCH MINOR REACHES MAJORITY.

1. 1
   Introduced
2. 2
   In Committee
3. 3
   Passed Senate
4. 4
   Passed House
5. 5
   To Executive
6. 6
   Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced January 21, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.