Recent Events Update:
As of March 11, 2019, two bills ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment have been introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives. HR 3391, introduced by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) and Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell (D-Lancaster) was introduced on January 8, 2019 and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. HR 3391 has been sponsored by two other representatives, both with the Democratic Party. Another bill, HR 3340 was introduced by Rep. Leonidas Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) on January 9, 2019. HR 3340 has been sponsored by both Democratic and Republican legislators, including the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Peter McCoy (R-Charleston).
As of March 11, 2019, two bills ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment have been introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives. HR 3340 was introduced by three legislators on January 8, 2019: Rep. Leonidas Stavrinakis (D-Charleston), Rep. and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Peter McCoy (R-Charleston), and Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell (D-Lancaster), the 1st Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee. HR 3340 was referred to and is currently in the Committee on the Judiciary. HR 3391 was introduced by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) and Rep. Powers Norrell on January 8, 2019 and was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
HR 3340 and HR 3391 are sponsored by both Democratic and Republican House legislators, including the Chairman and 1st Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee. However, neither HR 3340 nor HR 3391 are scheduled for a vote. No corresponding bill has been introduced in the South Carolina Senate in the current session.
As of January 26, 2019, two bills ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment have been introduced in the South Carolina House of Representatives. HR 3391, introduced by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) and Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell (D-Lancaster) was prefiled on January 8, 2019 and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. HR 3391 has been sponsored by two other representatives, both with the Democratic Party. Another bill, HR 3340 was introduced by Rep. Leonidas Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) on January 22, 2019. HR 3340 has been sponsored by both Democratic and Republican legislators, including the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Peter McCoy (R-Charleston).
The South Carolina Senate consists of 19 Democratic and 26 Republicans, while the House of Representatives consists of 44 Democrats and 80 Republicans. A co-sponsor of HR 3391, Rep. Simmons, defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Bill Crosby.
Sponsors for HR 3391 include:
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) (Primary)
Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell (D-Lancaster) (Primary)
Rep. Kambrell Garvin (D-Columbia)
Rep. Krystle Simmons (D-Charleston)
Sponsors for HR 3340 include:
Sponsors: Rep. Leonidas Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) (Primary)
Cosponsors:
Rep. Peter McCoy (R-Charleston) (Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary)
Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell (D-Lancaster)
Rep. Seth Rose (D-Columbia)
Rep. Beth Bernstein (D-Columbia)
Rep. William Cogswell (R-Charleston)
Synopsis: Both ERA bills have currently been referred to the the House Committee on the Judiciary. Given the Republican dominance of the state legislature and the fact that an overwhelming majority of legislative sponsors are Democratic, working on a bipartisan basis in South Carolina’s legislature is crucial to its passage in both the state House and the Senate.