South Carolina legislation · 126th General Assembly
South Carolina S477: Pharmacy access
Status: Signed into law, May 27, 2026
What the bill says
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…
From the amended text, May 13, 2026:
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; 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. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: S ECTION 1. S ection 40-43-210(9) of the S.C. Code is amended to read: ( 9) "Self-administered hormonal contraceptive" means a drug composed of a hormone or a combination of hormones that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and that the patient to whom the drug is prescribed or dispensed may administer to himself herself . "Self-administered hormonal contraceptive" includes an oral hormonal contraceptive, a hormonal vaginal ring, and a hormonal contraceptive patch. "Self-administered hormonal …
Sponsors
- Russell Ott (D, 26) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Act No. 167
- : Effective date 05/18/26
- : Signed By Governor
- : Ratified R 142
- : Ordered enrolled for ratification
- : Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-15
- : Conference report received and adopted
- : Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
- : Conference report adopted
- : Conference committee appointed Davis, Matthews, and Garrett
Votes
- House: (Pharmacy access) Adopt Conference Report (May 13, 2026): 98 yea, 15 nay, passed
- Senate: (Pharmacy access) to adopt the conference report (April 29, 2026): 43 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate: (Pharmacy access) to concur (February 24, 2026): 6 yea, 38 nay, failed
- House: (Pharmacy access) Passage of Bill (February 17, 2026): 109 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate: (Pharmacy access) 2nd Reading (May 6, 2025): 44 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is S477?
- S477 is a bill in the South Carolina Legislature (126th General Assembly): Pharmacy access.
- What does S477 do?
- In its own words: 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…
- What is the status of S477?
- Signed into law as of May 27, 2026. Latest action: Act No. 167 (May 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored S477?
- Russell Ott (D, 26).
- Where is the official record for S477?
- On the South Carolina Legislature website: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/477.htm
Source: official South Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.