South Carolina S 1038: Religious Liberty Day

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 1038 Text of Previous Version (May. 13, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 1038

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Amended

May 13, 2026

S. 1038

Introduced 
by Senator Massey 

S. Printed 5/13/26--H.

Read the first time April 22, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
53-3-340 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE FIRST DAY OF MARCH OF EACH YEAR AS "RELIGIOUS 
LIBERTY DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

 Amend Title To Conform

Whereas, religious 
liberty is a God-given right and one of the foundational principles upon which 
both the United States and the State of South Carolina were established; and

Whereas, the 
Constitution of South Carolina of 1790 declared that the free exercise and 
enjoyment of religious profession and worship shall forever be allowed in this 
State, without discrimination or preference; and

Whereas, our rights do 
not come from government, but are God-given, and government's duty is to 
protect them; and

Whereas, on January 15, 
2025, representatives of many faiths joined together for the inaugural South 
Carolina Religious Liberty Conference for the purpose of celebrating and 
promoting the Palmetto State's historic and contemporary embrace of the freedom 
of religion and conscience; and

Whereas, the inaugural 
South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference was hosted by the University of 
South Carolina's Rice School of Law; and

Whereas, on January 8, 
2026, the Second Annual South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference was 
convened in the chamber of the South Carolina House of Representatives, which 
continued the multifaith discussion on the importance of religious liberty in 
our State and nation; and

Whereas, in addition to 
legal scholars and elected officials, presenters at the South Carolina 
Religious Liberty Conferences have included representatives of many various 
faiths; and

Whereas, by acclamation 
of the participants in the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty 
Conference, it was resolved to promote contemporary support for the principles 
of religious liberty by petitioning the South Carolina General Assembly to 
recognize South Carolina's unique history in promoting and safeguarding the 
members of a free society's right to worship when, where, and how their 
conscience may dictate, as first guaranteed by the South Carolina Constitution; 
and

Whereas, this daring 
and historic masterpiece is a source of pride for all South Carolinians and a 
reason for all of our citizens to embrace, support, and celebrate our state's 
legacy and leadership in the promotion of religious liberty; and

Whereas, as the result 
of the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference, and the 
resolution and recommendation thereof, the South Carolina House of 
Representatives adopted House Resolution 4036, formally declaring March 1, 
2025, as "South Carolina, First in Religious Liberty Day"; and

Whereas, by acclamation 
of the participants in the Second Annual South Carolina Religious Liberty 
Conference, it was resolved to expand upon House 
Resolution 4036 by petitioning the South Carolina General Assembly to recognize 
and honor South Carolina's unique history in promoting and safeguarding the 
members of a free society's right to worship when, where, and how their conscience 
may dictate, as continuously guaranteed by the state constitution, by enacting 
in permanent law that the first day of March of each year be designated as 
"Religious Liberty Day" in South Carolina; and

Whereas, while South 
Carolina has been a beacon of religious liberty, its history also includes 
periods where the ideals of freedom were not fully realized. Let us honor South 
Carolina's contributions to the cause of religious liberty while committing ourselves 
to continue to learn from the lessons of our past and ensure these sacred 
freedoms extend to all. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 53 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
53-3-340. The first day of March of each year is designated as "Religious 
Liberty Day" in South Carolina.

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

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This web page was last updated on May 13, 2026 at 10:43 PM