(WCIV) — Lawmakers in the South Carolina House passed H.3927 Wednesday, a controversial bill that targets state agencies and schools for any association with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, training, or practices. Rep. Jordan Pace (R-Goose Creek), a yes vote, praised the state’s Republican supermajority for passing a “Republican Platform issue” he said was “strongly” modeled on President Donald Trumps anti-DEI executive order 14173.   SC House passes a Republican Platform issue! Modeled strongly on President Trump’s EO, it prevents tax dollars from being spent on DEI in state agencies, universities & subdivisions. Thanks to Chair ⁦@shannonerickson1⁩ for working w/ us to make this a strong bill! pic.twitter.com/SlyGzaRGCX — Jordan Pace (@Jscottpace) April 2, 2025 “President Trump made a promise to end discriminatory DEI programs in the federal government and he delivered. Now, the South Carolina House Republican Caucus is delivering here at the state level,” said House Majority Leader Davey Hiott (R-Pickens) . “We are proud to be the first state in America to translate President Trump’s executive order into law, restoring merit-based opportunity and protecting the civil rights of all South Carolinians.” Rep. Josiah Magnuson (R-Spartanburg) claimed in a post on X that some House Democrats left the chamber when Rep. Harriet Holman, a Black Republican woman, stood to speak against DEI. Lowcountry lawmakers were split on the controversial bill, with Charleston-area Democrats Tiffany Spann-Wilder, Leon Stavrinakis, and Spencer Wetmore all voting nay. Rep. JA Moore (D-North Charleston) voted no after speaking out against the bill earlier Wednesday in a speech centered on his father, the fight to uphold civil rights, and the refrain, “I am not nervous.” “As we are in this dark political time now when we don’t know who in the hell is running the country, those four words now are more important than ever before; I am not nervous,” Moore said. “And so as we continue this debate today, to all of you that believe in liberty, for all of you that believe in freedom and justice, just remember those four words – I am not nervous. There’s nothing that they can take away that they haven’t taken away before.”   “I am not nervous.” My father wrote these words after the KKK threatened blow up his home and burnt a cross in his front yard during the Civil Rights movement. As our country goes down a dark path, I find strength in those words. There’s nothing they can take from us that they… pic.twitter.com/uNaWUHsmvs — Rep. JA Moore (@jamooreforsc) April 2, 2025 H.3927 would put restrictions in place on every state agency, higher learning institution, and school district regarding DEI practices, prohibiting the establishment or maintenance of offices that promote DEI and forbidding requirements to participate in DEI-related training. The bill classifies diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as “promoting differential treatment” on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. One major aspect of the bill bans state agencies and schools from contracting vendors who themselves practice or uphold DEI policies or programs. According to the bill’s Statement of Estimated Fiscal Impact, the Medical University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and the Citadel all expressed that the bill could raise their costs and impact operations. The version of the bill that passed was “completely” rewritten after a lengthy discussionprior to a vote and was preceded by just 6 minutes of debate with no public testimony or committee discussion, according to SC House Democrats. The bill passed in an 82-32 vote and still needs to pass the state senate to head to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk. Click here to read the full bill. Categories: Local News, Politics, State Tags: SC State House, South Carolina ...read more read less