{"id":2585,"date":"2026-03-24T01:40:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T01:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.botanicalae.org\/?page_id=2585"},"modified":"2026-05-02T19:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T19:54:31","slug":"south-carolina","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.botanicalae.org\/?page_id=2585","title":{"rendered":"South Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Check daily for bills on agenda<\/strong>, House Meeting Schedule<\/mark><\/strong><\/a>

S0221<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0H4030<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0KCPA passed Senate, stalled in House
HB4636<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0ban The core objective of this bill is to reclassify kratom as a\u00a0Schedule I controlled substance<\/strong>.
HB4648<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Code to refine what constitutes a \u201cregulated kratom product\u201d, modified KCPA

CALL-TO-ACTION<\/mark><\/strong>
HB4641<\/strong><\/a> Schedule I Classification:<\/strong>\u00a0It amends\u00a0Section 44-53-190<\/a>
Status<\/strong>: Engrossed on April 30 2026 – 50% progression
Action<\/strong>: 2026-04-30 – Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
Pending<\/strong>:\u00a0Senate Medical Affairs Committee<\/a>
Hearing<\/strong>: May 6 @ 9:00 am in Gressette Room 209
Hearing<\/strong>: May 6 @ 11:00 am in Gressette Room 209
Text:\u00a0Latest bill text (Amended) [HTML]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date:<\/strong> Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Times:<\/strong> 9:00 am and 11:00 am
Location:<\/strong> Gressette Building, Room 209, Columbia, SC
If you intend to speak or submit comments in person, you must follow the committee’s registration protocol:
Requirement:<\/strong> Use the official sign-up form provided by the committee.
Deadline: Register<\/a> by NOON on Monday, May 4th<\/strong> using the official sign-up form. Their sign-up for is through Google Docs.
Note: <\/strong>You will get three minutes to speak.

Written Remarks:<\/strong> You can submit written testimony electronically to the email address above or mail it to the Medical Affairs Committee at PO Box 142, 412 Gressette Building, Columbia, SC 29202<\/strong>.

EMAIL THE COMMITTEE \u2192 smedicomm@scsenate.gov<\/a>
CALL 803-212-6700<\/a> Senate Medical Affairs main line

Written Remarks:<\/strong> You can submit written testimony electronically to the email address above or mail it to the Medical Affairs Committee at PO Box 142, 412 Gressette Building, Columbia, SC 29202<\/strong>.

EMAIL THE COMMITTEE \u2192 smedicomm@scsenate.gov<\/a>
CALL 803-212-6700<\/a> Senate Medical Affairs main line

Written Remarks:<\/strong> You can submit written testimony electronically to the email address above or mail it to the Medical Affairs Committee at PO Box 142, 412 Gressette Building, Columbia, SC 29202<\/strong>.

Committee Members Contact List<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Member Name<\/strong><\/td>Phone Number<\/strong><\/td>Email Address<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
Danny Verdin<\/strong> (Chair)<\/td>(864) 984-4129<\/td>DannyVerdin@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.<\/strong><\/td>(864) 489-3766<\/td>harveypeeler@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Brad Hutto<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6140<\/td>bradhutto@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Shane R. Martin<\/strong><\/td>(864) 804-8499<\/td>Shane@senatormartin.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Thomas C. Alexander<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6220<\/td>thomasalexander@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Tom Davis<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6080<\/td>tomdavis@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Thomas D. “Tom” Corbin<\/strong><\/td>(864) 834-9915<\/td>TomCorbin@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Margie Bright Matthews<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6016<\/td>margiebrightmatthews@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Michael W. Gambrell<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6032<\/td>mikegambrell@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Richard J. Cash<\/strong><\/td>(864) 505-2130<\/td>richardcash@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Billy Garrett<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6032<\/td>billygarrett@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Ronnie A. Sabb<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6024<\/td>ronniesabb@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Deon T. Tedder<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6132<\/td>deontedder@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Josh Kimbrell<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6108<\/td>joshkimbrell@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Tom Hernandez<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6024<\/td>tomhernandez@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Matthew W. “Matt” Leber<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6032<\/td>mattleber@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Jeff Zell<\/strong><\/td>(803) 212-6040<\/td>jeffzell@scsenate.gov<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> When emailing, ensure you include the bill number (HB 4641<\/strong>) in your subject line to ensure your comments are correctly filed for the hearing record.

Subject: Constituent Opposition to HB 4641 – Please Support HB 4648\/S 0221 Instead<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Senator [Member Last Name],<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am writing to you today as a concerned constituent to respectfully urge you to oppose HB 4641<\/strong>, which seeks to classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance. While I understand the committee’s goal of ensuring public safety, a total ban would remove access to a botanical product that many South Carolinians rely on for their well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of criminalization, I urge the committee to support sensible regulation<\/strong>. South Carolina has already seen progress with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)<\/strong>, specifically through S 0221<\/a> and HB 4030<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than a ban, regulation ensures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n