South Carolina – Lawmakers in South Carolina are working to make a statewide rule that decides which bathrooms children can use in public schools and colleges permanent. This will turn a temporary rule into a permanent requirement. The effort comes as the current law, adopted in 2024, is set to expire at the end of June.
According to the current policy, students must use bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers that match the gender listed on their birth certificate. About 60 House Republicans favor a new plan that would make the rule permanent in all public K–12 schools and state-supported colleges and institutions.
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It would also get rid of the expiration date. Supporters believe the plan is not about politics, but about being clear and consistent.
At a recent press conference, Republican leaders talked about the subject in terms of privacy and common sense. Supporters think that the state should explicitly define and preserve differences between boys and girls in schools, according to Shane Massey, the Senate Majority Leader.
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“We know what a woman is, and if it falls on South Carolina to educate the rest of the country about what a woman is, we are happy to assume that burden,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said during a press conference.
Supporters say that the law is meant to keep students safe and private, especially in places where they share space, like showers and locker rooms. They also point to parts of the plan that provide for limited exclusions, as when a coach is in a locker room with everyone else completely clothed, to make sure that schools can run without unnecessary disruption.
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The concept goes beyond just bathrooms. The law would also make it illegal for public colleges to require students to share dorm rooms with people of the opposite gender. Lawmakers who support the proposal say that this part of it follows the same privacy rules that the facility’s policy does.
But opponents argue it goes too far and is an example of government overreach. Some families and advocacy groups say that the regulation could put trans adolescents at risk of isolation or harm.
After a South Carolina family sued over the 2024 law, their concerns became even worse. The family said their 13-year-old transgender child was bullied at school and eventually stopped going to class.
Republican leaders have fought back against charges that the plan is aimed at or unfair to transgender children. House Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope said the legislation is not aimed at any specific group.
“It is in no way set out to discriminate against any group or class of people,” said Rep. Tommy Pope Speaker Pro Tempore. “It’s to protect the privacy of all, and we want to respect that.”
As with the temporary law, the permanent proposal includes enforcement measures. Supporters claim that schools and universities that don’t follow the regulation could lose state funds. This is required to make sure that the rule is applied the same way across the state.
The bill remains under review as lawmakers continue to hear testimony. Next Tuesday, there will be additional discussion. The plan will be talked over in a subcommittee before a possible vote.
