On November 18th, the Medical Affairs Subcommittee will meet to discuss — and potentially vote on — Senate Bill 323. Lawmakers will not accept public testimony during this hearing, but it remains essential that they continue hearing from donor-conceived people and families.
Join the Rally for Reproductive Justice
Location: Behind The Statehouse (1100 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29208)
Date and Time: November 18th at 1 PM
Advocates, families, and community members from across the state will gather to stand against S. 323 and the escalating attacks on reproductive freedom in South Carolina. This rally is a chance to show strength, solidarity, and determination as we fight to protect IVF access and reproductive care.
Bill Recap
What Is S. 323?
This legislation would define a human embryo in the South Carolina Health Code as “a human being that begins as a fertilized egg or zygote.”
How Does This Impact Donor-Conceived People and Access to IVF?
This change would restrict access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments, and could prevent doctors from being able to practice IVF in accordance with clinical best practices. S. 323 does not recognize or protect the needs of people born through assisted reproduction. Instead, it seeks to prevent our existence.
The ability to make informed choices about embryo use and donation is essential to the dignity of donor-conceived people and their families. This bill could also restrict embryo disposition options, leading to forced embryo donation and ignoring the best interests of donor-conceived people, recipient parents, and donors alike.
Why Is This Urgent?
Unlike most legislation, S. 323 is advancing outside the regular session through a special fast-track process. Lawmakers need to hear from us: IVF must remain legal and accessible to families in South Carolina.
Take Action Now
Email State Senators
Email Your State Senator
Don’t know who your senator is? Find out here: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
SAMPLE EMAIL
Subject: Protect IVF and Families – [Name and City]
Dear Senator [LAST NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent that lives in [YOUR TOWN], South Carolina. I am writing to ask you to oppose Senate Bill 323. By redefining embryos as “human beings,” this bill threatens access to IVF and other fertility treatments that countless South Carolina families depend on.
[S. 323 does not recognize or protect people like me, born through assisted reproduction.] OR [As a parent through assisted reproduction, I know firsthand how important it is to protect access to family-building care.] Instead, it seeks to prevent families like mine from existing. The bill could also take away the ability of parents, donors, and doctors to make decisions about embryos, forcing outcomes that are not in the best interest of donor-conceived people or their families.
[Share your personal story here. For example: Why IVF matters to you or your family or why protecting access to fertility care matters in your community.]
Families deserve respect and the ability to make informed medical decisions as they work to build their families. These decisions belong to doctors and families—not politicians. Please stand with South Carolina families and vote NO on S.323.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Email Committee Members
Copy and paste this list of emails into the Bcc line of your email. Please make sure to remove your state senator if you have already emailed them individually.
Bcc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
SAMPLE EMAIL
Subject: Oppose S. 323 – Protect IVF and Families
Hello,
My name is [YOUR NAME]. I am writing to ask you to oppose Senate Bill 323. By redefining embryos as “human beings,” this bill threatens access to IVF and other fertility treatments that countless South Carolina families depend on.
[S. 323 does not recognize or protect people like me, born through assisted reproduction.] OR [As a parent through assisted reproduction, I know firsthand how important it is to protect access to family-building care.] Instead, it seeks to prevent families like mine from existing. The bill could also take away the ability of parents, donors, and doctors to make decisions about embryos, forcing outcomes that are not in the best interest of donor-conceived people or their families.
[Share your personal story here. For example: Why IVF matters to you or your family or why protecting access to fertility care matters in your community.]
Families deserve respect and the ability to make informed medical decisions as they work to build their families. These decisions belong to doctors and families—not politicians. Please stand with South Carolina families and vote NO on S.323.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Call State Senators
Call Your State Senator
Use the link below to call your State Senator. After you enter your information, you’ll immediately receive the office’s contact details. Please use the sample script when you call. https://resolve.quorum.us/campaign/146960
PHONE SCRIPT
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I’m calling to ask Senator [LAST NAME] to oppose Senate Bill 323. This bill would redefine embryos as “human beings,” which threatens access to IVF and other fertility treatments that many South Carolina families depend on.
[Choose one:]
- S. 323 does not recognize or protect people like me, born through assisted reproduction.
- As a parent through assisted reproduction, I know firsthand how important it is to protect access to family-building care.
These decisions belong to doctors and families, not politicians. Please stand with South Carolina families and vote NO on S. 323.
REMEMBER: Please be respectful and thank them for their time!
Call Committee Members
Senator Cash: (803) 212-6124
Senator Corbin: (803) 212-6100
Senator Tedder: (803) 212-6132
Senator Hutto: (803) 212-6140
Senator Garrett: (803) 212-6016
Senator Fernandez: (803) 212-6024
Senator Martin: (803) 212-6420
Senator Sabb: (803) 212-6056
Senator Zell: (803) 212-6040
PHONE SCRIPT
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I’m calling to ask Senator [LAST NAME] to oppose Senate Bill 323. This bill would redefine embryos as “human beings,” which threatens access to IVF and other fertility treatments that many South Carolina families depend on.
[Choose one:]
- S. 323 does not recognize or protect people like me, born through assisted reproduction.
- As a parent through assisted reproduction, I know firsthand how important it is to protect access to family-building care.
These decisions belong to doctors and families, not politicians. Please stand with South Carolina families and vote NO on S. 323.
REMEMBER: Please be respectful and thank them for their time!