South Carolina Senate Bill 788

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)
Status: Engrossed on April 29 2026 - 50% progression
Action: 2026-04-30 - Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
Pending: House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Comm Sub) [HTML]

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Article 5 To Chapter 1, Title 40, So As To Provide Definitions Related To Artificial Intelligence And Therapy Or Psychotherapy; To Provide That A Licensed Professional Shall Not Be Permitted To Use Artificial Intelligence To Assist In Providing Supplementary Support In Therapy Or Psychotherapy Where The Client's Therapeutic Session Is Recorded Unless The Patient Is Informed That Artificial Intelligence Will Be Used And For What Purpose And The Patient Consents To This Use; To Provide That An Individual, Corporation, Or Entity May Not Offer Therapy Or Psychotherapy Services, Including Through The Use Of Internet-based Artificial Intelligence, Unless The Therapy Or Psychotherapy Services Are Conducted By A Licensed Professional; To Provide That A Licensed Professional May Not Allow Artificial Intelligence To Make Independent Therapeutic Decisions; To Require That All Records Kept By A Licensed Professional Be Kept Confidential; To Provide Exceptions; And To Provide Penalties For Violations.

Artificial Intelligence and Therapy or Psychotherapy

Sen. Allen Blackmon [R]

Sen. Everett Stubbs [R]

Sen. Matthew Leber [R]

2026-04-28 - Senate - Senate: 2nd Reading (Y: 44 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-30	House	Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
2026-04-30	House	Introduced and read first time
2026-04-29	Senate	Read third time and sent to House
2026-04-28	Senate	Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0
2026-04-28	Senate	Read second time
2026-04-28	Senate	Committee Amendment Adopted
2026-03-31	Senate	Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, Commerce and Industry
2026-01-13	Senate	Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
2026-01-13	Senate	Introduced and read first time

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0788&session=126&summary=B
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/788_20260113.htm
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/788_20260331.htm
Text	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/788_20260428.htm
Supplement	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/S0788%202026-01-13%20introduced.pdf
Roll Call	https://www.scstatehouse.gov/votehistory.php?KEY=27447