COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday signed a six-week abortion ban into law, triggering a court challenge filed by Planned Parenthood and its partners.
The signing, held with five Republican state lawmakers but no media — a contrast to the governor’s six-week ban bill signing in 2021, when hundreds packed the State House during the COVID-19 pandemic to watch — was announced by McMaster’s office.
“A few of us were there (Thursday) for the signing, but it wasn’t the celebratory atmosphere as it was when we passed the first ‘heartbeat’ bill,” said state Sen. Larry Grooms, a Berkeley Republican who is the lead sponsor of the new abortion law and one of the lawmakers in attendance Thursday. “Your second wedding reception isn’t nearly as large as your first.”
