The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) today strongly condemned H. 3537 and H. 4760, two bills that the organization says represent "a continued sweeping attack on bodily autonomy, reproductive health care, and personal freedom in South Carolina."
Hearings for both bills have been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan.14 at 12 p.m. in Room 110 of the Blatt Building at the South Carolina State House in Columbia.
Here's what WREN had to say:
"H. 3537 would legally define a 'person' as a fertilized egg at any stage of development. Under this definition, individuals whom officials believe harmed a fertilized egg could be charged with homicide and face penalties up to and including the death penalty.
"H. 4760 would criminalize abortion medication by creating new felony offenses related to the delivery, possession, and distribution of abortion pills. The bill replaces evidence-based health care with punishment and policing, cutting off access to safe medication abortion for many South Carolinians.
“These bills represent a continued extreme effort to criminalize pregnancy and health care in our state,” said Dr. Amalia Luxardo, CEO of WREN. “They do not protect health or safety. They create fear, surveillance, and punishment for people making deeply personal medical decisions.”
"These bills threaten the health, safety, and freedom of women in deeply harmful ways.
"H. 3537 would:
- Criminalize pregnancy outcomes. Miscarriages, stillbirths, pregnancy complications, and self-managed abortions could be treated as potential homicide cases.
- Put essential health care at risk. Birth control, emergency contraception, IVF, and miscarriage management could become legally vulnerable.
- Delay or deny lifesaving treatment. Doctors may hesitate to treat ectopic pregnancies, sepsis, or cancer during pregnancy out of fear of prosecution.
- Invite surveillance of women’s lives. Private medical decisions could become subject to investigation.
- Worsen existing inequities. Black women, immigrants, and people already facing barriers to care would be harmed most.
"H. 4760 would:
- Create new criminal penalties for abortion medication, including felony charges for delivering or distributing abortion pills.
- Increase policing and surveillance of pregnancy and medical care, making people afraid to seek help or ask questions.
- Restrict access to safe, evidence-based medication abortion, especially for people in rural areas or without nearby providers.
- Push people toward unsafe or delayed care by criminalizing support, information, and access.
- Disproportionately harm marginalized communities who already face systemic barriers to health care.
“Instead of compassion and care, lawmakers are choosing punishment and control. These bills would solidify South Carolina one of the most dangerous states in the country to be pregnant or seeking reproductive health care,” Dr. Luxardo added.
"WREN urges the public to attend the upcoming hearings on Jan. 14, contact their legislators, and speak out against H. 3537 and H. 4760."