South Carolina H 4638: Police Chief Jeffrey Stuart "Jeff" Helms

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4638 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4638

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 17 TO CHAPTER 43, TITLE 44 SO AS TO 
PROHIBIT THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF HUMAN EMBRYOS CREATED BY IN VITRO 
FERTILIZATION; AND TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 17

Human Embryos

 Section 
44-43-1710. (A) A person may not 
knowingly advertise or offer to purchase or sell, or purchase, sell, or 
otherwise transfer for valuable consideration, a human embryo created by in 
vitro fertilization. As used in this section, the term "valuable consideration" 
does not include the reasonable costs associated with the removal, storage, and 
transportation of a human embryo.

 (B) 
A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction:

 (1) 
for a first offense, must be imprisoned not more than fifteen years;

 (2) 
for a second offense, must be imprisoned not more than thirty years;

 (3) 
for a third or subsequent offense, must be imprisoned not more than forty-five 
years.

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

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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:07 PM