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H 4036

SC, "First in Religious Liberty Day"

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Declares March 1, 2025 as South Carolina, First in Religious Liberty Day to honor the inaugural Religious Liberty Conference and its diverse faith partners.

Introduced and adopted
0
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Bill Summary · H 4036

Summary — H 4036: “South Carolina, First in Religious Liberty Day” (House Resolution)

Note: The materials provided include text from an unrelated Massachusetts local bill about green zoning. This summary covers the South Carolina House resolution titled “First in Religious Liberty Day.”

Main purpose and intent

This House resolution recognizes and commends organizers and participants of the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference, affirms South Carolina’s historical role in promoting religious liberty (citing the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, adopted March 1, 1669), and declares March 1, 2025 as “South Carolina, First in Religious Liberty Day.” It encourages South Carolinians to celebrate and support the importance of religious liberty and conscience.

Key provisions

  • Commends organizers and participants of the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference (held January 15, 2025).
  • Recognizes the conference’s hosts and organizing partners, including:
    • University of South Carolina’s Rice School of Law (host)
    • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, International Center for Law and Religious Studies
    • J. Reuben Clark Law Society
    • Interfaith Partners of South Carolina
  • Lists representative presenters/participants from a range of faith communities and institutions (e.g., A.M.E. Church, Aiken Muslim Association, Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, Center for Jewish Life–Chabad, Church of God in Christ, South Carolina Historical Society).
  • Recounts and honors the historical claim that the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (adopted March 1, 1669) included an early governmental guarantee of religious liberty.
  • Declares March 1, 2025 as “South Carolina, First in Religious Liberty Day.”
  • Contains a recognition that while South Carolina has made important contributions to religious liberty, its history also includes times when those ideals were not fully realized, and calls for continued commitment to extending freedoms to all.

Who is affected

  • Primarily ceremonial: the resolution is symbolic and honorary. It:
    • Recognizes conference organizers, participating faith and civic groups, and the University of South Carolina.
    • Signals the General Assembly’s endorsement of the conference’s goals to promote religious liberty.
  • No regulatory, criminal, or fiscal changes arise from the resolution; it does not create new rights or legal obligations.

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Filed as a House resolution and dated February 19, 2025 (introduced and adopted by the House as indicated in the provided text).
  • The text names March 1, 2025 as the day to be observed.
  • The document as provided does not indicate any required further executive action; as a resolution, it is a legislative expression rather than statute.

Fiscal and legal impact

  • No direct fiscal impact identified. The resolution is ceremonial and declaratory.
  • No binding legal or regulatory effects; it does not alter state law or create enforceable duties.

Significance

  • Serves to publicly acknowledge the inaugural Religious Liberty Conference, highlight South Carolina’s historical narratives about religious freedom, and encourage public recognition of religious liberty’s importance.
  • Functions as an interfaith and civic recognition intended to promote dialogue and education about religious freedom in the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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