H 4638

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