South Carolina S 1176: Practice Agreements

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 1176 Text of Previous Version (May. 05, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 1176

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 
3 TO CHAPTER 7, TITLE 41, SO AS TO DECLARE THAT PRACTICE AGREEMENTS ARE AGAINST 
THE PUBLIC POLICY OF THE STATE AND TO MAKE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS PROHIBITED, 
VOID, AND UNENFORCEABLE.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 7, Title 41 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 3

Practice Agreements

 Section 
41-7-310. It is hereby declared that the right to work of nurse practitioners, 
clinical nurse specialists, or certified nurse midwives, who are otherwise 
licensed to practice advanced practice nursing in this State and hold licenses 
in good standing, must not be denied or abridged by practice agreements. It is 
further declared that practice agreements restrict and interfere with the 
establishment and maintenance of a patient's choice of healthcare provider and 
are against the public policy of the State of South Carolina.

 Section 
41-7-320. A nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse 
midwife licensed to practice advanced practice nursing pursuant to the 
provisions of Title 40, Chapter 33 has a direct, personal, and individual duty 
and responsibility to his patients, regardless of his form of practice or 
employment, and any practice agreement, including "practice agreement" as 
defined in Section 40-33-20(45), that creates or establishes the terms of a 
collaborative practice agreement, employment, or any other form of professional 
relationship that restricts or interferes with the nurse practitioner, clinical 
nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife's ability to treat patients within 
the scope of his education and training are henceforth prohibited, void, and 
unenforceable.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on May 05, 2026 at 02:36 PM