Representative Cal Forrest, District 39 Legislative Update
February 2nd, 2026
Week 4 Legislative Update Supporting our Small Businesses, Protecting Life, and Giving Parents the Tools They Need To Protect Their Kids.
Dear Friends, Last week, we continued advancing conservative priorities focused on supporting small businesses, protecting life, and giving parents the tools they need to protect their kids. From tax relief for job creators to strong action on public safety and accountability, House Republicans delivered meaningful progress for South Carolina families.
Supporting Small Businesses & Job Creators
Small businesses are the backbone of South Carolina’s economy, and last week House Republicans took important steps to help them grow and succeed. The Ways and Means Committee passed legislation to cut taxes and reduce burdens on small businesses. Small businesses make up more than 99% of all businesses in South Carolina and employ over 42% of our state’s workforce. This legislation exempts the first $10,000 of small business assets, saving employers time and money on paperwork, cutting costly red tape, and ending a burdensome tax on investments. These reforms help boost local job growth and keep South Carolina competitive.
Protecting Children & Strengthening Public Safety
Last week, legislation increasing penalties for the sexual exploitation of minors advanced in the House Judiciary Subcommittee. This bill strengthens criminal penalties to ensure punishment fits the severity of these crimes and makes clear that “mistake of age” is not a defense for creating or distributing exploitative material. South Carolina will not tolerate the exploitation of children. The Judiciary Subcommittee also advanced legislation aimed at protecting children online by addressing the growing mental health and safety risks posed by addictive social media platforms. The bill requires reasonable age verification, parental consent, and increased transparency, giving families more control over how and when minors access social media. These commonsense protections help limit screen addiction and safeguard the well-being of South Carolina’s youth.
Protecting Life & Women’s Safety
Protecting life remains a top priority for House Republicans. Last week, the House passed legislation addressing chemically induced abortions. The bill closes a loophole that has allowed abortion pills to be sent into South Carolina with little accountability and stops bad out-of-state actors from flooding our state with dangerous abortion drugs. It classifies mifepristone as a Schedule IV drug, ensuring proper oversight, and patient safety. This legislation puts women’s health and safety first, not the profits of out-of-state providers and makes clear that South Carolina will not back down from protecting life.
Watch Representative Melissa Oremus defend women and life at the well.
Other Bills Advancing Through the Legislative Process
In addition to the work highlighted above, several other important pieces of legislation continued moving through the General Assembly last week.
A bipartisan bill advancing last week, (S.405) strengthens South Carolina’s child abuse homicide statute by increasing the age covered under the crime from under 11 to under 18. This change ensures harsher penalties and greater accountability for those whose abusive or neglectful actions result in the death of an older child — reflecting our shared commitment to protecting all South Carolina children. The bill passed the House with unanimous support and now continues through the legislative process.
House Republicans continue to stand with parents by advancing legislation that protects parental rights (H.4757), affirming that moms and dads — not the government, are best equipped to make decisions about their children’s upbringing, education, and well-being.
Legislation strengthening workforce readiness (H. 3197) continues advancing, helping ensure students graduate with the skills needed to succeed in today’s economy and meet the needs of South Carolina employers. This effort supports job growth, economic competitiveness, and a stronger pipeline between education and the workforce.
The House is advancing legislation recognizing the U.S. Space Force (H.4586) under South Carolina law. This update ensures Space Force members and their families receive the same legal protections and benefits as other service members — including military leave, voting rights, and family-related matters.
Legislation expanding certificate-of-need exemptions for veterans’ homes (H.4799) also moved forward, cutting red tape to make it easier to provide care for the men and women who have served our country. This commonsense reform helps ensure veterans have access to the facilities and services they deserve. House Republicans remain focused on delivering thoughtful, conservative solutions, moving good policy forward step by step to strengthen families, protect freedoms, and keep South Carolina moving in the right direction.
| I’m available and at your service! It is my honor to be of service to you. If you need assistance navigating state government, or have any thoughts or concerns about what we are doing, please do not hesitate to contact me via email, or give me a call at 803-349-6741. Sincerely, Cal Forrest District 39 South Carolina General Assembly 803-349-6741 |
