South Carolina legislation · 126th General Assembly
South Carolina S508: Monuments
Status: Signed into law, June 3, 2026
What the bill says
To amend the south carolina code of laws by amending section 10 1 165, relating to the protection of certain monuments and memorials, so as to expand the type of monuments or memorials that may not be relocated, removed, or disturbed, to authorize the general assembly, by joint resolution, to take actions regarding certain monuments, to allow for certain exceptions, and to provide the manner in which an affinity organization may bring a civil action to prevent certain actions regarding certain monuments.
From the amended text, May 14, 2026:
A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 10 1 165, RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF CERTAIN MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS, SO AS TO EXPAND THE TYPE OF MONUMENTS OR MEMORIALS THAT MAY NOT BE RELOCATED, REMOVED, OR DISTURBED, TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY JOINT RESOLUTION, TO TAKE ACTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN MONUMENTS, TO ALLOW FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH AN AFFINITY ORGANIZATION MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION TO PREVENT CERTAIN ACTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN MONUMENTS. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: S ECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that those who lived through a historical event possess a firsthand understanding that later observers can study but never fully replicate. Accounts written by people who experienced the event-or who lived closer to the time period-carry the texture of context, language, and lived reality that inevitably fades with time. The nearer a person stands in time to the event, the more likely their description reflects the conditions, perceptions, and meanings as they were actually understood when they occurred. S ECTION 2. S ection 10-1-165 of the S.C. Code is amended to read: S ection 10-1-165. ( A) For the purposes of this section: ( 1) "Affinity organization" means a nonprofit organization registered with the Secretary of …
Sponsors
- Stephen Goldfinch (R, 34) · primary sponsor
- David Martin (R, 26)
- Peeler Jr., Harvey (R, 14)
- Sean Bennett (R, 38)
- Young Jr., Tom (R, 24)
- Allen Blackmon (R, 27)
- Joshua Kimbrell (R, 11)
- Jeffrey Zell (R, 36)
- Tom Fernandez (R, 39)
- Thomas Alexander (R, 1)
- Ross Turner (R, 8)
- Brian Adams (R, 44)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 05/19/26
- : Act No. 224
- : Signed By Governor
- : Ratified R 228
- : Conference report enrolled for ratificatiom
- : Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
- : Roll call Yeas-79 Nays-28
- : Conference report received and adopted
- : Conference committee appointed Verdin, Goldfinch, Sutton
- : House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. T Moore, Taylor, Govan
Votes
- Senate: (Monuments) to adopt the conference report (May 14, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: (Monuments) Adopt Conference Report (May 14, 2026): 79 yea, 28 nay, passed
- House: (Monuments) Table Amendment 6 Amendment number 6 (May 7, 2026): 74 yea, 27 nay, passed
- House: (Monuments) Table Amendment 13 Amendment number 13 (May 7, 2026): 70 yea, 26 nay, passed
- House: (Monuments) Table Amendment 11 Amendment number 11 (May 7, 2026): 74 yea, 28 nay, passed
- House: (Monuments) Table Amendment 10 Amendment number 10 (May 7, 2026): 74 yea, 28 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is S508?
- S508 is a bill in the South Carolina Legislature (126th General Assembly): Monuments.
- What does S508 do?
- In its own words: To amend the south carolina code of laws by amending section 10 1 165, relating to the protection of certain monuments and memorials, so as to expand the type of monuments or memorials that may not be relocated, removed, or disturbed, to authorize the general assembly, by joint resolution, to take actions regarding certain monuments, to allow for certain exceptions, and to provide the manner in which an affinity organization may bring a civil action to prevent certain actions regarding certain monuments.
- What is the status of S508?
- Signed into law as of June 3, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 05/19/26 (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored S508?
- Stephen Goldfinch (R, 34), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S508?
- On the South Carolina Legislature website: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/508.htm
Source: official South Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.