The Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee works to represent SCBaptist in the public square. We have three legislative priorities for 2026: Pushing Back Against Gambling, Promoting a Culture of Life, and Protecting Parental Rights.

Pushing Back Against Gambling

Leading up to the 2025 legislative session, rumors emerged about major gambling interests eyeing South Carolina. By the end of the first year of the 126th General Assembly, a bill had reached the House floor proposing the legalization of casino gambling in the state, with plans for a $1 billion casino potentially located along the I-95 corridor. Titled “The I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act,” this bill exemplifies misleading legislation. It seeks to establish the South Carolina Gaming Commission, which would oversee and regulate the expansion of gambling to include casinos.

The casino bill is just the first of three proposed bills that could fundamentally change South Carolina. Evidence shows that casinos can increase crime, divert resources, foster additional vices, and contribute to personal and family hardships. Online sports betting is another threat, often described as the “fentanyl of gambling,” because it makes wagering as simple as sending a text message. This ease of access can quickly lead to gambling addiction, with lasting consequences for individuals and families. The third measure involves parimutuel betting on horse racing, formalized in the bill titled “The South Carolina Equine Advancement Act”—legislation that primarily benefits gambling interests rather than advancing the equine industry. Clearly, the initial rumors of a targeted push for gambling expansion were accurate.

Promoting a Culture of Life

South Carolina currently protects life beginning with the detection of a fetal heartbeat, typically around six weeks of pregnancy. While this is a positive step, there is still room for improvement. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported that in 2024, 3,025 abortions occurred in the state, with chemical abortions accounting for 84% (2,552) of the total. Compared to 2023, the number of out-of-state abortions dropped by 92%, and total abortions decreased by 63%. These figures show progress, but more needs to be done to protect all innocent lives. In 2026, lawmakers will have the chance to introduce and debate bills to protect life beginning at conception, eliminate chemical abortions, provide financial support for pro-life initiatives, and advance a culture of life in South Carolina.

Protecting Parental Rights

Parents deserve the right to make educational and medical decisions for their children. However, over the past decade, local, state, and federal policies have increasingly interfered with parental rights, implying that government agencies know what’s best for children. When the 2026 legislative session begins, at least four bills will seek to define and safeguard parental rights in South Carolina law. We will encourage our lawmakers to “pass legislation that protects and upholds parental rights; ensures that parents have the freedom to make decisions regarding the upbringing, education, and healthcare of their children without outside interference; and recognizes that parents are the primary arbiters of their child’s moral, physical, and spiritual formation.” (SCBC Resolution Encouraging Laws to Protect Parental Rights, 2024).

For More Information

For more information on these and other legislative priorities for 2026, visit our website. There, you’ll find resources to educate and empower you for civic engagement. When citizens speak up, lawmakers take notice. Speaking boldly for truth has been a long-standing tradition for South Carolina Baptists. Will you help us make our voices heard in 2026?