S717 is a bill in the South Carolina Legislature (126th General Assembly): Mothers and Preborns Act.

What is the status of S717?

In committee as of May 6, 2026. Latest action: Scrivener's error corrected (May 6, 2026).

Billy Garrett (R, 10), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for S717?

On the South Carolina Legislature website: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/717.htm

South Carolina legislation · 126th General Assembly

South Carolina S717: Mothers and Preborns Act

Q: What does S717 do?

In its own words: To amend the south carolina code of laws so as to enact the "mothers and preborns act"; by adding section 44-37-80 so as to create the office of the healthy newborn ombudsman in the department of health and human services and to provide for the duties and authority of the ombudsman; and by amending section 44-41-340, relating to the publication of materials regarding available assistance concerning pregnancy, so as to provide that the brochure or other written materials provided for in section 44-37-80 are included in the materials provided to a pregnant woman prior to an abortion. b e.

Status: In committee, May 6, 2026

What the bill says

To amend the south carolina code of laws so as to enact the "mothers and preborns act"; by adding section 44-37-80 so as to create the office of the healthy newborn ombudsman in the department of health and human services and to provide for the duties and authority of the ombudsman; and by amending section 44-41-340, relating to the publication of materials regarding available assistance concerning pregnancy, so as to provide that the brochure or other written materials provided for in section 44-37-80 are included in the materials provided to a pregnant woman prior to an abortion. b e.

From the engrossed text, May 6, 2026:

A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "MOTHERS AND PREBORNS ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 44-37-80 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF THE HEALTHY NEWBORN OMBUDSMAN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE OMBUDSMAN; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-340, RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION OF MATERIALS REGARDING AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE CONCERNING PREGNANCY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE BROCHURE OR OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 44-37-80 ARE INCLUDED IN THE MATERIALS PROVIDED TO A PREGNANT WOMAN PRIOR TO AN ABORTION. B e it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: S ECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Mothers and Unborn Children Act". S ECTION 2. C hapter 37, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding: S ection 44-37-80. ( A) For the purposes of this section: ( 1) "Parent" means a biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, or other primary caregiver of an unborn human child at the various gestational ages through infancy. ( 2) "Unborn child" means a developing human being at any stage of gestational development process, from fertilization until live birth, including embryonic and fetal stages. ( B) The Healthy Mother and Healthy Newborn Ombudsman Office is …

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South Carolina S717: Mothers and Preborns Act

What the bill says

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