American Sign Language Symbol Act

2025-2026 Bill 4610: American Sign Language Symbol Act - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4610
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. J. Moore, Oremus, M.M. Smith, Davis, Robbins, Pope, Bustos, Landing, Teeple, Hartnett, Sessions, B. Newton, Wickensimer, Wetmore, Bradley, Reese, B.L. Cox, Stavrinakis, Gatch, J.L. Johnson, Rutherford, Hosey, Gilliard, Grant, Hart, Crawford, Guest, McGinnis, Hardee, Holman, Bamberg, Willis, Burns, Chumley, Bowers and Guffey
Document Path: LC-0386SA26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on April 1, 2026
Last Amended on March 31, 2026

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Family and Veterans' Services
Summary: American Sign Language Symbol Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

12/16/2025

House

Prefiled

12/16/2025

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works

1/13/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 35
)

1/13/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 35
)

1/20/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Oremus,
M.M. Smith, Davis, Robbins, Pope, Bustos,
Landing, Teeple, Hartnett, Sessions, B.
Newton, Wickensimer, Wetmore, Bradley,
Reese, Cox, Stavrinakis, Gatch

1/21/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: J.L.
Johnson, Rutherford, Hosey, Gilliard, Grant,
Hart, Crawford, Guest, McGinnis, Hardee,
Holman, Bamberg, Willis, Burns, Chumley

3/26/2026

House

Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 8
)

3/31/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers,
Guffey

3/31/2026

House

Amended (
House Journal-page 294
)

3/31/2026

House

Read second time (
House Journal-page 294
)

3/31/2026

House

Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-0 (
House Journal-page 295
)

4/1/2026

House

Read third time and sent to Senate (
House Journal-page 19
)

4/1/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 18
)

4/1/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Family and Veterans' Services
(
Senate Journal-page 18
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/17/2025
03/26/2026
03/31/2026

Amended

March 31, 2026

H. 4610

Introduced by Reps. J. Moore, Oremus, M. M.
Smith, Davis, Robbins, Pope, Bustos, Landing, Teeple, Hartnett, Sessions, B.
Newton, Wickensimer, Wetmore, Bradley, Reese, Cox, Stavrinakis, Gatch, J. L.
Johnson, Rutherford, Hosey, Gilliard, Grant, Hart, Crawford, Guest, McGinnis,
Hardee, Holman, Bamberg, Willis, Burns, Chumley, Bowers and Guffey

S. Printed 3/31/26--H.

Read the first time January 13, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE
"SOUTH CAROLINA STATE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SYMBOL ACT" BY ADDING SECTION
1-1-687
SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE "I LOVE YOU" (ILY) HAND GESTURE AS THE OFFICIAL
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SYMBOL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; AND BY ADDING
ARTICLE 29 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 1 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
AND CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES SHALL INCORPORATE THE "I LOVE YOU" GESTURE AS
APPROPRIATE.

Amend Title To Conform

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
This act may be cited as the "South Carolina State American Sign
Language Symbol Act."

S
ECTION 2.
T
he General Assembly finds:

(
1) The "I Love
You" (ILY) hand gesture, widely recognized in American Sign Language (ASL),
symbolizes love, unity, and inclusivity across diverse communities, including
individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and those advocating for accessible
communication.

(
2) South
Carolina has a rich history of supporting accessibility and inclusion for
individuals with disabilities, as seen through the work of educators,
advocates, and organizations such as the South Carolina School for the Deaf and
the Blind (SCSDB).

(
3) The ILY
hand gesture holds cultural and historical significance beyond ASL,
representing universal goodwill and human connection. Its formal designation as
a state symbol aligns with South Carolina's values of community, education, and
heritage.

(
4) Sculptor
Bob Doster, in collaboration with South Carolina students-including those from
the SCSDB-has created public sculptures of the ILY gesture in Spartanburg and
Columbia, highlighting its importance as a visual and educational
representation of ASL.

(
5) Recognizing
the ILY hand gesture as an official state emblem will:

(
a) promote
awareness and education about ASL;

(
b)
encourage inclusivity in state programs, schools, and public spaces; and

(
c) honor
South Carolina's commitment to accessibility and communication equity.

S
ECTION 3.
A
rticle 9, Chapter 1, Title 1 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:

S
ection
1-1-687
.
(
A) The "I Love You" (ILY)
hand gesture is hereby designated as the official American Sign Language symbol
of the State of South Carolina.

(
B) The
official description of the ILY hand gesture must be defined as follows: The
thumb, index finger, and pinky are extended, while the middle and ring fingers
remain folded down. This gesture is widely recognized in ASL and is used
globally to express "I Love You."

(
C)
This symbol must be recognized in all official contexts related to South
Carolina state emblems and may be incorporated into state branding, educational
curriculum, and public awareness campaigns.

S
ECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor and must be fully implemented by July 1, 2027.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on March 31, 2026 at 7:15 PM