S 294 — Former Senator Robert Ford
Last action — Introduced and adopted
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 30, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
Prognosis
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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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41 sponsors
41 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND FORMER SENATOR ROBERT FORD FOR DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF CHARLESTON COUNTY AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
44 added · 5 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to Bill S 294 adds a resolution that honors former Senator Robert Ford for his extensive contributions to Charleston County and the state of South Carolina. This addition highlights Ford's significant role in civil rights activism and his efforts to have the Confederate flag removed from the State House. Recognizing his service not only pays tribute to his legacy but also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging figures who have fought for equality and community leadership in the state.
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30, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 294Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) A senate RESOLUTION to recognize and commend former senator Robert Ford for decades of service to the citizens of Charleston County and the State of South Carolina.
Whereas, Robert Ford was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 26, 1948, to parents who were leaders in the African American community;
and Whereas, he attended Wayne State University and Grambling State University.
Deeply involved in the Civil Rights movement, he served on the staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1966 to 1972 and worked for Martin Luther King Jr.
as a member of an advance team of the 1968 Poor People's Campaign;
and Whereas, Senator Ford was elected to serve on the Charleston City Council, where he served from 1974 to 1992.
He was elected to serve in the South Carolina Senate on November 3, 1992, taking office in 1993 and serving until May 2013.
In the Senate, he served on various committees during his tenure:
Banking and Insurance;
Corrections and Penology;
General;
Invitations;
Judiciary;
and Labor, Commerce and Industry.
He was the ranking Democrat on several committees;
and Whereas, a member of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Ford led the initiative to have the Confederate flag removed from the South Carolina State House, the last state capitol to display a Confederate battle flag.
Following years of debate, the flag was moved to a nearby monument with the adoption of a compromise bill authored by Ford;
and Whereas, he was instrumental in securing an African American History Monument on the State House grounds, and he was responsible for the passage of a 1998 act that paired Martin Luther King Jr.
Day with Confederate Memorial Day as paid holidays with the hope that the legislation would improve race relations in South Carolina;
and Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are grateful for the years of service that Robert Ford provided to the citizens of Charleston County and the State of South Carolina.
Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and commend former Senator Robert Ford for decades of service to the citizens of Charleston County and the State of South Carolina.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to former Senator Robert Ford.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on January 30, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Action History
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Introduced and adopted
Sponsors
- Roger A. Nutt · Primary
- Senator Tom Davis · Primary
- Senator Jason Elliott · Primary
- Senator Tom Fernandez · Primary
- Senator Michael W. Gambrell · Primary
- Senator Billy Garrett · Primary
- Senator Stephen L. Goldfinch · Primary
- Senator Jeffrey R. Graham · Primary
- Senator Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms · Primary
- Senator Greg Hembree · Primary
- Senator Brad Hutto · Primary
- Senator Michael Johnson · Primary
- Senator Carlisle Kennedy · Primary
- Senator Josh Kimbrell · Primary
- Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber · Primary
- Senator Shane R. Martin · Primary
- Senator Russell L. Ott · Primary
- Senator Luke A. Rankin · Primary
- Senator Mike Reichenbach · Primary
- Senator Rex F. Rice · Primary
- Senator Ronnie A. Sabb · Primary
- Senator Everett Stubbs · Primary
- Senator Ed Sutton · Primary
- Senator Deon T. Tedder · Primary
- Senator Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III · Primary
- Senator Overture Walker · Primary
- Senator Kent M. Williams · Primary
- Jr. Senator Tom Young · Primary
- Senator Jeff Zell · Primary
- Senator Ronnie W. Cromer · Primary
- Senator Brian Adams · Primary
- Senator Karl B. Allen · Primary
- Senator Allen Blackmon · Primary
- Senator George E. "Chip" Campsen III · Primary
- Senator Richard J. Cash · Primary
- Senator JD Chaplin · Primary
- Senator Wes Climer · Primary
- Senator Tameika Isaac Devine · Primary
- Senator Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin · Primary
- Senator Darrell Jackson · Primary
- Senator Margie Bright Matthews · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →41 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 129 not signed on
Sponsors (41)
- Nutt, Roger A.
- Senator Tom Davis
- Senator Jason Elliott
- Senator Tom Fernandez
- Senator Michael W. Gambrell
- Senator Billy Garrett
- Senator Stephen L. Goldfinch
- Senator Jeffrey R. Graham
- Senator Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
- Senator Greg Hembree
- Senator Brad Hutto
- Senator Michael Johnson
- Senator Carlisle Kennedy
- Senator Josh Kimbrell
- Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber
- Senator Shane R. Martin
- Senator Russell L. Ott
- Senator Luke A. Rankin
- Senator Mike Reichenbach
- Senator Rex F. Rice
- Senator Ronnie A. Sabb
- Senator Everett Stubbs
- Senator Ed Sutton
- Senator Deon T. Tedder
- Senator Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
- Senator Overture Walker
- Senator Kent M. Williams
- Senator Tom Young, Jr.
- Senator Jeff Zell
- Senator Ronnie W. Cromer
- Senator Brian Adams
- Senator Karl B. Allen
- Senator Allen Blackmon
- Senator George E. "Chip" Campsen III
- Senator Richard J. Cash
- Senator JD Chaplin
- Senator Wes Climer
- Senator Tameika Isaac Devine
- Senator Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin
- Senator Darrell Jackson
- Senator Margie Bright Matthews
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (129)
129 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 129 →"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.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 294 do?
- A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND FORMER SENATOR ROBERT FORD FOR DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF CHARLESTON COUNTY AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
- Who sponsors S 294?
- S 294 is sponsored by Nutt, Roger A., Senator Tom Davis, Senator Jason Elliott, Senator Tom Fernandez, Senator Michael W. Gambrell, Senator Billy Garrett, Senator Stephen L. Goldfinch, Senator Jeffrey R. Graham, Senator Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, Senator Greg Hembree, Senator Brad Hutto, Senator Michael Johnson, Senator Carlisle Kennedy, Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber, Senator Shane R. Martin, Senator Russell L. Ott, Senator Luke A. Rankin, Senator Mike Reichenbach, Senator Rex F. Rice, Senator Ronnie A. Sabb, Senator Everett Stubbs, Senator Ed Sutton, Senator Deon T. Tedder, Senator Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III, Senator Overture Walker, Senator Kent M. Williams, Senator Tom Young, Jr., Senator Jeff Zell, Senator Ronnie W. Cromer, Senator Brian Adams, Senator Karl B. Allen, Senator Allen Blackmon, Senator George E. "Chip" Campsen III, Senator Richard J. Cash, Senator JD Chaplin, Senator Wes Climer, Senator Tameika Isaac Devine, Senator Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin, Senator Darrell Jackson, and Senator Margie Bright Matthews.
- What is the current status of S 294?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 30, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track S 294?
- Track S 294 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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