Columbia council votes to repeal city ban on conversion therapy for minors amid state funding threat; adopts budget and advances downtown plan

Columbia City Council voted on first reading to repeal the city's 2021 ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors, approving the measure 4-3 after an extended public comment period dominated by medical professionals, LGBTQ advocates and residents who urged the council to keep the ban in place.

The vote came after council members heard more than two dozen public speakers during the meeting's public-input period, many of whom said conversion therapy is harmful and urged the council to resist what speakers called political pressure from state officials. City materials presented at the meeting said a state budget proviso tied to the issue would cause an estimated reduction of about $3,700,000 in state funding to the city.

Why it matters: The 2021 ordinance made Columbia the only municipality in the state to prohibit conversion therapy for minors. Supporters said the ban signals city values and protects vulnerable youth; opponents of keeping the ban told council members the possible loss of state funds would harm city services.

Council action and immediate effect The ordinance repealing the 2021 prohibition (Ordinance No. 2025043) was introduced and placed on first-reading approval. The motion passed on roll call with four council members voting in favor and three opposed. After the first-reading vote, council adopted a related direction asking the city manager to restore local government funding by reducing the hospitality tax transfer if state funds were withheld.

Public comment highlights - Jace Woodrum, executive director of the ACLU of South Carolina, said the local law "does not infringe upon free speech" and called the attorney general's threats "political". He argued that the ordinance regulates provision of health care and protects children.

- Dr. Deborah Loverrett, a Columbia psychiatrist, told the council that conversion therapy is "widely discredited by medical and psychological professionals" and said it is linked to worse mental-health outcomes.

- Senator Tamika Isaac Devine, who said she helped advance the original ordinance, described the state budget proviso as "political theater" and urged council members to protect the city's autonomy.

Council also approved budget, downtown plan and other measures In the same meeting the council: - Adopted the city's FY2026 operating budget (Ordinance No. 2025045) on second reading. - Approved a downtown strategic plan as an addendum to the comprehensive plan and related zoning/text amendments that consolidate two existing downtown overlay districts into a single Downtown Columbia overlay and design guidelines (items taken and voted together). - Approved a moratorium on certain short-term rental permits (Ordinance No. 2025054, first reading). - Approved multiple resolutions and routine agenda items including agreements for supportive housing services, transit MOU, procurement and property actions.

What council members said Councilmember remarks during debate showed competing priorities: several members emphasized the fiscal risk to public safety and city services if state funds were withheld, while others urged protecting vulnerable youth and preserving local policymaking authority. One council member said the city must balance "competing interests, limited resources, and complex personal beliefs" when making local-government choices.

Next steps and legal context The repeal vote recorded tonight was on first reading. The city's staff and council noted that the state attorney general has questioned the ordinance's constitutionality and that the state legislature included a budget proviso tied to municipal bans on conversion therapy. Council directed staff to pursue steps to mitigate any funding loss to the city if the state withholds funds.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the meeting) - Ordinance 2025043 (repeal of 2021 conversion-therapy ban): first-reading motion approved; roll-call votes: Bailey No; Brown Yes; Herbert No; Bustles No; Brennan Yes; McDowell Yes; Mayor Rickman Yes. Outcome: approved (first reading).

- Ordinance 2025045 (FY2026 budget): second-reading approval. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded all voting yes).

- Ordinance 2025054 (short-term rental moratorium): first-reading approval. Outcome: approved (roll call recorded: Bailey Aye; Brown No; Herbert Aye; Bustles Aye; Brennan Yes; McDowell Yes; Mayor Rickman Aye).

- Downtown plan and related zoning/text amendments (items 20 & 21): taken together and approved. Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call in favor).

- Ordinance amendment to add pickup-window accessory use (item 22): approved (unanimous in favor).

- Landmark designation 900 Calhoun Street (item 23): approved (unanimous in favor).

- Lease for Inzer Keenan House (item 24): approved (unanimous in favor).

- Resolutions authorizing festival alcohol permit, transit MOU, supportive-housing services agreement with the University of South Carolina, contracts for Salvation Army services, abandoned-building designation (2318 Devine St.), William Street extension intergovernmental agreement with Richland County, purchase and sale for Washington/Assembly corner, and a development contract with Core Columbia Hampton LLC: each approved on roll call as presented.

Community context and clarifying details - City materials cited an estimated $3,700,000 loss to the city if the state proviso remains in the budget; several public speakers and council members noted that amount represents a small fraction of the total city budget but say any cut would affect services. - Speakers repeatedly said Columbia's 2021 ordinance was intended to protect minors from practices viewed by health organizations as harmful; multiple medical professionals and mental-health practitioners spoke against repeal. - Presentations at the meeting said no violations of the 2021 ordinance had been reported in the city to date and noted that conversion therapy remained permitted elsewhere in the state outside Columbia.

What to watch Council comments and votes indicate the city will seek ways to offset potential state funding reductions; council also directed the city manager to take specific budget adjustments tied to restored local funding amounts should state funds be withheld. The repeal was taken on first reading tonight; action on subsequent readings, legal challenges, or state-level litigation could affect the ordinance's final status.

Ending The meeting included dozens of public speakers and multiple administrative and planning actions; council members stressed both the fiscal pressures facing municipal government and the potential human impact on vulnerable youth as they weigh final action in coming weeks.