South Carolina has not yet enacted statewide hate crimes legislation.
The Municipal Association identified support of hate crimes legislation as an advocacy for the 2023-2024 legislative sessions. While hate crimes legislation has passed the SC House of Representatives during the 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 legislative sessions, the Senate has chosen not to give the bill consideration.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s office has released a nonbinding opinion regarding the constitutionality of hate crime ordinances. The opinion is linked here.
SC cities and towns across the state have passed hate crime ordinances. A list of local ordinances can be found below.
- Town of Mount Pleasant
- City of Myrtle Beach
- City of North Charleston
- City of Orangeburg
- City of Spartanburg
- Town of Summerville
- City of Wellford
If your city or town has adopted a hate crimes ordinance, please notify Erica Wright at ewright@masc.sc.