South Carolina S 1158: Human Embryos

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 1158 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 29, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 1158

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

DRAFT PREPARED BY 
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

For: Sen. Leber

Attorney: Ravenel

Drafting Assistant: 

Date: April 14, 2026

DOC. ID.: /LEGISLATIVE 
COUNCIL/VR/DRAFTS/LC-0504VR26/LC-0504VR26.DOCX

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 140 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE 
GENETIC MODIFICATION OF HUMAN EMBRYOS TO ALTER THE BIOLOGICAL SEX OF A HUMAN 
EMBRYO, TO CREATE PENALTIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

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

CHAPTER 140

Genetic 
Modification of Human Embryos

 Section 
44-140-10. No practitioner or facility shall knowingly perform, attempt to 
perform, or assist in the performance of genetic modification that alters the 
biological sex of a human embryo.

 Section 
44-140-20. (A) A person who violates Section 44-140-10 is guilty of a felony 
and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than twenty thousand dollars or 
imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, and the person's professional 
license must be revoked by the applicable licensing body.

 (B) Each alteration of the biological sex of a 
human embryo in violation of Section 44-140-10 shall constitute a separate 
offense for purposes of this chapter.

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

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This web page was last updated on April 29, 2026 at 02:24 PM