S.C. House unexpectedly delays debate on anti-DEI bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Republicans’ push to target diversity efforts in South Carolina will be delayed another week.

It follows an unexpected disruption during a debate at the State House on Wednesday on a bill to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in schools and state agencies.

Nearly two-thirds of of the House of Representatives signed on to the bill as cosponsors, all Republicans, so its age Wednesday seemed like a guarantee in the chamber’s GOP supermajority.

But after starting the debate that morning, the House made the surprising move to decide to finish it next week, a rarity for the lower chamber, where debates typically begin and end on the same day.

“That supermajority came unprepared today,” Rep. Hamilton Grant, D – Richland, told reporters Wednesday. “They were not prepared to defend what they had their names on.”

As it stands now, the bill would prohibit state agencies, local governments, school districts, and public colleges from creating or promoting DEI offices and ban them from requiring mandatory diversity statements.

It would also outlaw preferential treatment in employment and hiring and prohibit them from requiring employees to participate in diversity training.

These provisions would not apply to private companies.

ers of the bill are adamant that its new language would not impact, for example, a school or agency promoting Black History Month or Women’s History Month.

They claimed it also would not affect programs like Call Me MiSTER, which works to increase the number of teachers from diverse backgrounds and experiences in South Carolina.

Republicans argued that this legislation promotes merit in employment and higher education.

“DEI programs, as we’ve seen in this country, are a failed experiment,” Rep. Tim McGinnis, R – Horry, said in a brief introduction on the bill Wednesday on the House floor.

But not long into opening statements, and before the House could get to any amendments, the chair of the Education and Public Works Committee called to delay the debate until next week.

Democrats uniformly oppose the bill, believing it is unnecessary and harmful, and told reporters they were upset by the move.

“I’m appalled, and I feel disrespected because this isn’t a bill any of us wanted,” Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D – Richland, said, adding he delayed a visit to his father, who was undergoing brain surgery, to be present for the debate. “[Republicans] are separated in themselves. Even of their own party don’t want this bill. of their own committees don’t want this bill. They have constituents reaching out to them, saying they don’t want this bill.”

But Education and Public Works Committee Chair Shannon Erickson, R – Beaufort and the member who called for the delay, denied Republican discontent was the reason for her request and said there was nothing nefarious or dramatic about her request.

Erickson says she received around 20 amendments on the bill that she asked for in advance, but which were dropped on her desk just before the debate started, and that she needs time to do due diligence.

“I don’t want to leave a good idea on the table,” Erickson told reporters after the House adjourned Wednesday. “Now, if it’s something that I don’t think we can integrate into what the plan is, then we’ll be back at square one. But if I’m going to be the person who says it’s collaborative and wants to work to the best product we can get, I’m going to take a minute and do that.”

Erickson said the House plans to resume the debate on this bill next Tuesday.

“We shouldn’t mind that I took a hot minute and said, ‘Let’s look at this with the folks in the House,’ because I value their opinions,” she said.

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