COLUMBIA - The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) strongly opposes S. 1095, legislation introduced Wednesday in the South Carolina Senate that mirrors the extreme and deeply unpopular provisions of S. 323 - a bill that advocates, medical professionals, and South Carolinians fought hard to defeat.
S. 1095 would outright ban abortion in South Carolina, eliminate exceptions for rape, incest, and fatal fetal anomaly, and criminalize access to abortion care - including medication abortion. The bill goes even further by targeting those who assist patients, restricting the distribution of medication, and opening the door to civil and criminal penalties.
“This bill is not new - it’s a recycled attempt to push through one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country,” said Dr. Amalia Luxardo, CEO of WREN. “South Carolinians have already made it clear: policies like this are out of step with our values and harmful to our communities.”
If passed, S. 1095 would:
- Remove critical exceptions for rape, incest, and fatal fetal anomaly
- Criminalize patients and those who support them in accessing care
- Restrict access to FDA-approved medication abortion
- Expand legal risks for healthcare providers and loved ones
- Create new pathways for surveillance, punishment, and civil action
WREN warns that this legislation would have far-reaching consequences, particularly for women with low incomes, women of color, and those living in rural communities who already face significant barriers to care.
“This is about more than access to healthcare - it’s about autonomy, dignity, and the ability to make personal decisions without government interference,” said Ashley Lidow, Chief Strategy Officer at WREN. “We will continue to fight alongside our partners and communities to ensure that South Carolinians are not stripped of their rights.”
S. 1095 has been referred to the Senate Medical Affairs Committee and we anticipate it will be heard in April.