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Subcommittee adopts amendment to Senate Bill 1038 recognizing Religious Liberty Day
Summary
The Higher Education Subcommittee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1038 to align its language with the 1790 South Carolina constitution and remove references to particular faiths so the observance applies broadly; the amendment passed 8–0 with one member absent.
The Higher Education Subcommittee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1038, the Religious Liberty Day measure, after Representative Jackie Terabiel described the change as a clarification and a move to equal treatment for all faiths.
"This amendment is pretty simple," Representative Jackie Terabiel said, explaining it "replaces the reference of the 1669 fundamental constitutions with language from our adopted 1790 South Carolina constitution" and "removes specific references to particular religions or faith groups." She added, "Religious liberty applies to every person in our state, and naming specific groups can create the appearance of preference."
Chair Tim McGinnis told members the subcommittee would not take public testimony and asked for a motion and second on the amendment. The clerk called the roll; by a recorded vote the amendment was adopted "by a vote of 8 aye, 0 nay, and 1 absent," the clerk announced.
The chair framed the amendment as aligning the bill to the state's governing constitution and as preserving the principle of religious liberty without singling out religions. The subcommittee took no additional testimony and moved on to the next agenda items after the vote.
The amendment now stands as the committee-approved revision to SB1038. The bill will proceed through the committee process as amended.
