S 477 — Pharmacy access
Last action — Act No. 167
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 20, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on May 18, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Mixed recorded votes
4 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill allows pharmacists in South Carolina to dispense hormonal contraceptives under specific protocols.
This bill updates the regulations governing pharmacists in South Carolina regarding the dispensing of self-administered hormonal contraceptives. It allows these medications to be dispensed without patient-specific orders if certain written protocols are followed.
What this means for you
- Consumers: This means easier access to hormonal contraceptives at pharmacies without needing a specific prescription.
Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-210, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF A "SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE" IN THE PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-230, RELATING TO PHARMACISTS PERMITTED TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE SUCH DISPENSATIONS MAY BE MADE PURSUANT TO CERTAIN WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-240, RELATING TO WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS BY THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND THE BOARD OF PHARMACY TO AUTHORIZE PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES WITHOUT PATIENT-SPECIFIC WRITTEN ORDERS, SO AS TO INSTEAD PROVIDE THE DISPENSATIONS MAY BE MADE UNDER STANDING ORDERS OR WITHOUT STANDING ORDERS WHEN DISPENSED OR ADMINISTERED PURSUANT TO CERTAIN WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
2 added · 23 removedPlain-language change summary
In the latest version of Bill S 477, a definition related to self-administered hormonal contraceptives was updated to reflect recent changes in medical guidelines. Specifically, this version includes new language that clarifies what qualifies as a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, while removing outdated details that are no longer relevant. This change is important as it aims to ensure that the law accurately reflects current medical practices, making it easier for individuals to understand their options for contraceptive care.
2025-2026 Bill 477 Text of Previous Version (Apr.(Mar.
30,20, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 477Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Aprilbill 30, 2025TO AMEND S.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-210, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF A "SELF-ADMINiSTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE" IN THE PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION;
477 Introduced by Senators Davis and Ott S.
Printed 4/30/25--S.
Read the first time March 20, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Medical Affairs To whom was referred a Bill (S.
477) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 40-43-210, relating to the definition of a "self-administered hormonal contraceptive" in the Pharmacy, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
DANIEL VERDIN for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-210, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF A "SELF-ADMINiSTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE" IN THE PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION;
----XX---- This web page was last updated on AprilMarch 30,20, 2025 at 11:22 PMAM
Action History
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Act No. 167
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Effective date 05/18/26
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Signed By Governor
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Ratified R 142
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Ordered enrolled for ratification
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Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-15
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Conference report received and adopted
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Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
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Conference report adopted
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Conference committee appointed Davis, Matthews, and Garrett
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House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Guest, Calhoon, and Bernstein
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Roll call Ayes-6 Nays-38
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Non-concurrence in House amendment
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Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
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Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-5
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Read second time
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Amended
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Debate adjourned
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Requests for debate-Rep(s). McCravy, Frank, Beach, Edgerton, Magnuson, Guffy, Terribile, Long
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Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to House
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Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs
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Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Senator Tom Davis · Primary
- Senator Russell L. Ott · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 168 not signed on · 55 voted No
Sponsors (2)
- Senator Tom Davis Voted No
- Senator Russell L. Ott Voted No
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (168)
168 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 168 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 95 | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 97 | 15 | 0 | 11 |
| % of votes cast | 79% | 12% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 43 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 43 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 93% | 0% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (46)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 6 | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 6 | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 13% | 84% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (45)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 105 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 108 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 4% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (44)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 477 do?
- AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-210, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF A "SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE" IN THE PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-230, RELATING TO PHARMACISTS PERMITTED TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE SUCH DISPENSATIONS MAY BE MADE PURSUANT TO CERTAIN WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-240, RELATING TO WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS BY THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND THE BOARD OF PHARMACY TO AUTHORIZE PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES WITHOUT PATIENT-SPECIFIC WRITTEN ORDERS, SO AS TO INSTEAD PROVIDE THE DISPENSATIONS MAY BE MADE UNDER STANDING ORDERS OR WITHOUT STANDING ORDERS WHEN DISPENSED OR ADMINISTERED PURSUANT TO CERTAIN WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOLS. - RATIFIED TITLE
- Who sponsors S 477?
- S 477 is sponsored by Senator Tom Davis and Senator Russell L. Ott.
- What is the current status of S 477?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 20, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track S 477?
- Track S 477 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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