H3927 would ban state and local public institutions—including state agencies, public schools, colleges, and universities—from promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. It defines DEI broadly to include offices, units, policies, trainings or programs that give preferences or special treatment based on race, gender, color, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation, except where required by federal or state law. Entities subject to the law would have to certify compliance, file reports of complaints, and could be subject to actions by the attorney general.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3927 on April 2, 2025 by a vote of 82 to 32. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because DEI programs advance racial and ideological favoritism, undermining the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. Equity-based policies promote Marxist ideas of group privilege rather than individual liberty, fostering division instead of unity. Although this bill unfortunately allows for exceptions (which legislators should eliminate), it takes an important step toward restoring equal treatment, protecting freedom of conscience, and pushing back against the Left’s collectivist agenda.