Henry McMaster
Henry McMaster is the Governor of South Carolina, in office since 2017. Entries naming him record his signature on legislation passed by the South Carolina General Assembly, and redistricting carried out by the state. Several of his entries concern the drawing of districts rather than the subject matter that dominates other governors' records here.
2026 Events (2)
South Carolina Senate advances congressional map dismantling its only majority-minority district
On May 23, 2026, the South Carolina state Senate advanced a new congressional redistricting map on a 27-17 second-reading vote, after invoking cloture earlier in the day to cap each member's floor debate at one hour and abandoning a planned overnight session to move ahead of schedule. The map redraws the state's seven U.S. House districts to break up the 6th Congressional District -- South Carolina's only majority-minority district and its only Democratic-held seat, long represented by Rep. James Clyburn -- positioning Republicans to win all seven seats. The bill also delays the state's congressional primary from June 9 to August 18; a decisive third-reading vote is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26.
South Carolina enacted a law barring transgender students from school restrooms matching their gender identity
On May 15, 2026, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed H4756, the "South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act" (Act No. 152), requiring that multi-occupancy restrooms and changing facilities in public K-12 schools and higher-education institutions be designated for use by one biological sex, defined as sex assigned at birth. The law effectively bars transgender students from facilities matching their gender identity and threatens noncompliant districts and colleges with the loss of up to 25 percent of state funding. It took effect the same day.
2025 Events (1)
South Carolina enacted a budget proviso barring state funds for gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 16 at MUSC
On June 3, 2025, South Carolina completed enactment of its FY2025-26 General Appropriations Act (H4025), which includes Proviso 23.4 barring the Medical University of South Carolina from using state funds for gender-affirming care for patients under 16 at its Pediatric Transgender Clinic. The General Assembly ratified the budget on May 28, 2025, Governor Henry McMaster left the proviso intact in his June 3 line-item veto message, and the act took effect July 1, 2025.
2024 Events (2)
South Carolina enacted a budget proviso barring transgender K-12 students from restrooms matching their gender identity
South Carolina's FY2024-25 General Appropriations Act (H.5100, ratified as R-252) took effect on July 3, 2024, carrying Budget Proviso 1.120, which requires all K-12 public school districts to designate multi-occupancy restrooms, locker rooms, changing facilities, and overnight sleeping quarters for use by students of one biological sex only. The proviso withholds 25 percent of a district's state operating funds for a violation. Gov. Henry McMaster issued 21 line-item vetoes to the budget that day on unrelated appropriations, leaving Proviso 1.120 untouched and in force for the 2024-25 school year.
South Carolina Gov. McMaster signed H4624 banning gender-affirming care for minors and requiring schools to out trans students
On May 21, 2024, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed H4624, the Help Not Harm Act, into law, barring physicians from providing gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery to anyone under 18. The law also prohibits public funds and the state Medicaid program from covering gender transition procedures at any age and requires public school staff to notify a minor's parents if the student discloses that their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. It took effect immediately upon the governor's signature.
2022 Events (3)
South Carolina enacted FY2022-23 budget Proviso 23.4, barring MUSC from using state funds for gender-affirming care for transgender minors under 16
On July 1, 2022, South Carolina's FY2022-23 General Appropriations Act (H.5150, Act No. 239) took effect carrying Proviso 23.4, which bars the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) from using state appropriated funds for gender-affirming care for patients under 16. The General Assembly adopted the proviso in its June 15, 2022 conference report, and Governor Henry McMaster's June 22 line-item veto message did not strike it. This is the first-year enactment of a proviso South Carolina has renewed annually since.
South Carolina Gov. McMaster signed medical-conscience law shielding only race from care-refusal discrimination
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed H4776, the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, into law on June 17, 2022, after it passed the House 76-31 and the Senate concurred 23-13. The law lets medical practitioners, institutions, and payers refuse to provide or pay for any nonemergency health care service that violates their religious, moral, or ethical conscience, with its sole anti-discrimination carve-out protecting patients only on the basis of race. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and roughly 50 health care professionals who had urged a veto warned the law would restrict access to care such as gender-affirming treatment and fertility services for same-sex couples.
South Carolina Gov. McMaster signed H4608, barring transgender athletes from school sports teams
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed H4608, the "Save Women's Sports Act," into law on May 16, 2022, after it passed the House 70-33 and the Senate 30-10. The law requires K-12 and public postsecondary athletic teams to be designated by sex at birth, barring transgender women and girls from competing on female-designated teams.