The South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee favorably passed the COS grassroots-backed House Bill 4624, banning gender transition procedures for minors, an F3 (Federalism, Freedom, and Fundamental Rights) initiative, after a hearing on Wednesday. The subcommittee's decision propels the bill, which previously cleared the South Carolina House, to a full Senate committee hearing.
“A physician, mental health provider, or other health care professional shall not engage in the provision or performance of gender transition procedures to a person under eighteen years of age,” the bill states, noting that anyone “who knowingly performs genital gender reassignment surgery [on a minor]… is guilty of inflicting great bodily injury upon a child….”
Legislative Liaison (LL) Chris Poyatt explained that the team, even after passing the COS Resolution in 2022, remains focused on advancing the values that matter to South Carolinians while also flexing the grassroots’ self-governing muscle.
“All government is local,” she mused, explaining the team’s legislative strategy for influencing policymakers and effecting change. “So, if you don’t start on the local level and do your best to make your presence, as a grassroots force, known… you have no power…. We realized that the importance and the strength you’re going to have is working with your individual legislator on a one-to-one basis.” Notably, Poyatt added, this methodical, relationship-based approach to influencing legislatures is often laborious, taking many years and countless hours to achieve. “But in the process, you establish [a] relationship that is undeniable.”
After eight years of perfecting this model to pass the Convention of States Resolution in the Palmetto State, the South Carolina state team faced a serious choice: either let that muscle atrophy through disuse or continue to leverage eight years’ worth of power and influence to advance other pro-freedom, pro-responsible self-governance measures. The team elected for the latter.
“Yes, the Resolution was important. But so is protecting your children,” Poyatt said. “That particular bill will stop any medical, surgical, or pharmaceutical intervention for sexual transitioning for a child….” The LL cited a previous case where the state legislature “put a stop to” the Medical University of South Carolina performing gender surgeries on younger children. HB 4624 is simply an extension of that, she contended, raising the age to 18 and broadening the ban to apply to “any medical affiliation in the state.”
The COS team in South Carolina will continue to track the progress of this bill, building their self-governing muscle in the process. With over five million supporters nationwide, Convention of States continues to uphold its reputation as the most formidable grassroots army in American history. To join the army in support of calling the first-ever Article V convention to limit federal spending, jurisdiction, and terms of office, sign the Convention of States petition below.
