Amendment adding parental bill of rights to S.C. constitution could be on 2024 ballots

May 22—South Carolina could add a parental bill of rights to its state constitution in 2024.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson told those attending the Aiken County Republican Rally in The Alley Saturday morning that his office is working on a parental bill of rights that would go into the state constitution if an amendment adding it is approved by voters in the 2024 general election.

He said the amendment would protect the rights of parents to have notice and consent and transparency with teachers and school administrators.

In South Carolina, the constitution is usually amended after voters cast their ballots to approve an item placed on their ballots by the South Carolina General Assembly prior to the election.

If the parental bill of rights follows a similar pattern, a bill adding the amendment to 2024 ballots would need to be approved by the South Carolina General Assembly and signed into law by the governor.

As such, the fate of such a bill would depend on the state continuing to have Republican supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly and a governor receptive to the idea.

Bills establishing a parental bill of rights in law but not into the state constitution were filed in the Senate and House in late 2021. The Senate bill was filed by S.C. Sen. Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville, and referred to the Family and Veterans Service Committee. The House bill was filed by S.C. Rep. R.J. May, R-Lexington, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Neither bill moved forward in those committees.

Wilson was one of several statewide officials facing primary challengers to speak at the Rally in The Alley event Saturday morning. Others included Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Secretary of State Mark Hammond and Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers.

Attorney General candidate Lauren Martel, gubernatorial candidate Harrison "Trucker Bob" Musselwhite, secretary of state candidate Keith Blandford and agriculture commissioner candidates Bob Rozier and Bill Bledsoe also spoke at the event before noon.

Bledsoe was asked to stop speaking around five minutes into a speech making several as of yet unfounded allegations about the Chinese government that didn't appear to have anything to do with his campaign for agriculture commissioner.

State superintendent of education candidates Ellen Weaver and Bryan Chapman and Musselwhite's running mate, Zoe Warren, were expected to speak in the afternoon.

S.C. Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken, and his primary opponent, Betsy Lamb, and several county council candidates also spoke at the event.

Congressman Joe Wilson, S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, and S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken also spoke at the event but do not face primary opponents and will not be on the June 14 primary ballot.

Wilson faces Democrat Judd Larkins in the Nov. 8 general election.

Young was reelected to a four-year term in 2020 and will not be on the ballot in November. He said during his speech that he would be running for reelection in 2024.

Taylor will be on the Nov. 8 ballot but does not face opposition to retain the seat he holds.