South Carolina
Entries where the acting authority was South Carolina (SC), whatever state or country the events took place in.
Jurisdiction is who acted, not where it happened. Federal conduct inside South Carolina is filed under Federal, not here.
Institutions seated here (1)
Bodies whose own seat of authority is South Carolina. They appear in entries under other jurisdictions too — an institution acts outside its own seat constantly — so this is not the same set as the entries below.
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South Carolina General Assembly 8 entries
The South Carolina General Assembly is the state's bicameral legislature, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
2026 Events (9)
Colleton County, S.C. sheriff's lieutenant fired over 62 unauthorized Flock camera searches, including his spouse's vehicle
Colleton County Sheriff's Office Lt. Kevin Smalls was fired on August 31, 2026, after an internal audit found he conducted 62 unauthorized searches of the department's Flock license-plate-reader system over a six-month period, including searches of vehicles registered to his spouse and other acquaintances. Sheriff Guerry Hill Jr. requested a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigation into potential criminal conduct. Smalls is the second Colleton County lieutenant fired for Flock misuse in August 2026, after Lt. Ruben Carter's termination on August 20 over more than 2,700 unauthorized searches.
Colleton County, S.C. lieutenant made 2,700+ unauthorized Flock license-plate searches on 14 people over a year, fired
Colleton County, South Carolina Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Ruben Carter was fired on August 20, 2026 after an internal audit found he had made more than 2,700 unauthorized searches of the department's Flock license-plate-reader system over roughly a year, targeting 14 people -- including himself, fellow deputies, friends, and former associates. Sheriff Guerry "Buddy" Hill Jr. asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to investigate possible criminal conduct and overhauled the department's Flock access policy in response.
Mauldin, S.C. officer fired for using Flock cameras 166 times to track ex-partner, falsified search logs
Separation papers Mauldin, South Carolina police officials filed with the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy — first publicly reported August 10, 2026 after records requests, since neither Hammond nor the department disclosed it voluntarily — showed that Mauldin Police Department officer Ellie Hammond was terminated August 3, 2026 after using the department's Flock automated license-plate-reader system 166 times between March and July 2026 to track a former significant other's vehicle. Hammond disguised the searches by logging them as warrant checks, traffic infractions, and welfare checks rather than their real purpose.
Richland County, S.C. deputy Russell Kenton II fired, arrested for misusing Flock camera system
Richland County Sheriff's Department deputy Russell Kenton II, 35, was fired and arrested for misconduct in office on July 29, 2026, after a July 24 audit by the department's Professional Standards Division found he had used his access to the Flock license-plate-reader system to research information unrelated to law enforcement purposes. Sheriff Leon Lott announced the termination and arrest; RCSD's public statements did not specify what information Kenton searched or why. Kenton was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and released on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond.
Greer, S.C. police corporal repeatedly searched Flock cameras to track a fellow officer, falsified justifications
Greer, South Carolina Police Department Corporal Kareem Lynch repeatedly used the department's Flock Safety license-plate-reader system to search for the license plate of a fellow officer with whom he had a prior relationship, between December 2025 and January 2026, logging the queries under false justifications such as "welfare checks" or "city planning." The city of Greer disclosed on July 14, 2026 that Lynch had been terminated on June 26, 2026 after a Flock AI audit corroborated the allegations.
Greer, S.C. police officer searched Flock cameras to track his ex-girlfriend and other citizens, falsified justifications
Greer, South Carolina Police Department Officer Sebastian Echeverry used the department's Flock Safety license-plate-reader system to search the plates of several citizens, including his ex-girlfriend, between December 13, 2025 and May 25, 2026, entering "Alcohol Offense Non-DUI" as his justification even though that was not the true reason for the searches. The city of Greer disclosed on July 14, 2026 that Echeverry had been terminated on June 29, 2026 after a Flock AI audit corroborated the allegations.
South Carolina Senate blocks Trump-pressured mid-decade gerrymander of Clyburn's district
On May 26, 2026, the South Carolina state Senate blocked a Trump-pressured mid-decade redistricting bill that would have redrawn the state's seven congressional districts to dismantle its only majority-Black and only Democratic-held seat, long represented by Rep. James "Jim" Clyburn, and position Republicans to win all seven seats. Twelve Republicans joined twelve Democrats on a procedural vote to deny the 26 votes needed to end debate, killing the map for the cycle. It is the first state in President Trump's national mid-decade redistricting drive where the legislative push has collapsed.
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.
2007 Events (1)
South Carolina General Assembly ratified H.3063, enacting a constitutional same-sex marriage ban
On March 22, 2007, the South Carolina General Assembly ratified H.3063 (Act No. 7), formally enacting into the state constitution the amendment providing that marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union the state or its political subdivisions may create or recognize. The act completed a process begun with the legislature's 2005 referral of the amendment (HJR3133/Joint Resolution 45) and South Carolina voters' November 7, 2006 approval of it (77.97%-22.03%); no governor's signature was required for the ratification act.
2005 Events (1)
South Carolina Legislature completed passage of HJR3133, a constitutional same-sex marriage ban, referring it to voters
The South Carolina House passed H.3133 (A45, R51) 96-3 on March 1, 2005, proposing a constitutional amendment limiting lawful domestic unions to one man and one woman; the Senate amended and passed it 2005-04-14, and the House concurred in the Senate amendment and enrolled the bill on 2005-04-26, completing the General Assembly's referral of the amendment to voters. The measure was ratified 2005-04-28 without need for the governor's signature, and voters approved the resulting Amendment 1 on November 7, 2006.