South Carolina House Passes Bill Supporting Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers

By a vote of 95-0, the S.C. House of Representatives yesterday passed a strong, principled pro-life bill offering state tax credits to individuals and businesses that support pregnancy resource centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes, among other non-profit pro-life and pro-family establishments in South Carolina.

Following third reading, typically a perfunctory vote, the bill will be sent to Governor Henry McMaster for his signature. The bipartisan legislation, known as the Pregnancy Resource Tax Credit Bill (S. 32), originated in the State Senate.

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Initially introduced by chief sponsor Senator Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, S. 32 passed the Senate unanimously on April 15, 2025. Notably, it passed the House exactly one year later.

South Carolina Citizens for Life President Lisa Van Riper commended members of the General Assembly for their support of the bipartisan measure. “We are encouraged that our elected officials are continuing to build a culture of life by promoting resources that assist women in choosing life for their unborn children,” she said.

Cathy Leeke, State Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, praised passage of the pro-life tax credit bill. “We’re thrilled to see such decisive pro-life values displayed by our House of Representatives by passing the Pregnancy Care Act today. We look forward to working alongside our partners in the pro-life community to expand life-affirming services to women and children across our state,” she said. She also commended Senator Grooms for meeting in the summer of 2024, agreeing to be the original sponsor of the bill, and “diligently working with us to see this bill get passed.”

In addition to SCCL and Lifeline Children’s Services, organizations supporting the Pregnancy Resource Tax Credit Bill include the South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers, Palmetto Family, A Moment of Hope, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).

A tax credit reduces the amount of taxes owed on a dollar-for-dollar basis. While donors to federally recognized charitable organizations may receive tax deductions, which reduce taxable income, tax credits can generate greater giving by allowing taxpayers to direct a portion of their tax liability. For example, a business owing $10,000 in state income taxes could designate up to 50 percent of that amount to a qualified organization under S. 32.

South Carolina Citizens for Life supports this legislation as part of its Visioning A Way Forward: From Dobbs to a Culture of Life, which promotes policies that provide care for both unborn children and their mothers. Although SCCL would not directly benefit from the tax credit because SCCL does not provide direct services, the organization strongly supports laws that fund and protect charitable organizations offering adoption services, preventing abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, or trafficking of children, and assisting women in carrying pregnancies to term while promoting healthy childbirth.

The law requires eligible organizations to certify in writing to the South Carolina Department of Revenue that they “do not provide, pay for, or provide coverage of abortion.”

LifeNews Note: Holly Gatling is the executive director for South Carolina Citizens for Life.

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