South Carolina Senate Passes Bill to Protect Historic Monuments

Legislation would ban adding QR codes to statues and make it difficult to remove or alter memorials.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:51am

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A cinematic painting of an old Confederate monument in a Southern city, with the monument bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, creating a nostalgic and contemplative mood.A historic monument stands as a reminder of the South's complex and contentious past, sparking ongoing debates over how to commemorate history.Columbia Today

The South Carolina Senate has approved a bill that would protect nearly every historic statue, monument, street, and building name across the state from removal or changes. The legislation would also ban the use of QR code stickers on monuments, which supporters said could be used to provide additional context about controversial historical figures. The bill now moves to the state House with about a month left in the legislative session.

Why it matters

This bill highlights the ongoing debate over how to handle Confederate and other controversial monuments, with some arguing they should be preserved as historical artifacts and others pushing for their removal or recontextualization. The legislation could make it very difficult for local governments or colleges to take down or modify memorials, even those honoring figures with histories of racism and segregation.

The details

The South Carolina Senate approved the monument protection bill in a 31-7 vote, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against. The legislation would require the state legislature to approve any proposal to remove or alter a monument. It defines 'historical figures' as any dead person who 'played a significant role in past developments.' This would extend protections beyond just Confederate monuments to include memorials for other historical events and figures. The bill also bans the use of QR codes on monuments, which supporters said could be used to provide additional context about controversial figures.

  • The South Carolina Senate approved the bill on April 16, 2026.
  • The bill now moves to the state House, with about a month left in the legislative session.

The players

South Carolina Senate

The state legislative body that approved the monument protection bill.

Sen. Danny Verdin

The Republican sponsor of the bill, who successfully fought to include a provision banning QR codes on monuments.

Sen. Margie Bright Matthews

A Democratic senator who read quotes on the Senate floor from controversial historical figures like John C. Calhoun and 'Pitchfork' Ben Tillman, arguing against preserving their legacies.

Brian Turner

The president and CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston, who wrote a letter to senators arguing that allowing the evolution of how historical figures are portrayed has value.

Sen. Darrell Jackson

A Democratic senator who said he doesn't feel warm and fuzzy seeing Confederate monuments, as his ancestors were freed from bondage through the Civil War.

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What they’re saying

“Do we want to be a state that continues to debate and defend the legacy of treason, racism and exclusion?”

— Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, Democratic Senator

“As our knowledge and understanding of history continues to evolve, please consider the value in allowing for an evolution in how the lives of those in the past are told.”

— Brian Turner, President and CEO, Preservation Society of Charleston

“History is usually a matter of who sees it, who tells it, who experiences it.”

— Sen. Darrell Jackson, Democratic Senator

What’s next

The monument protection bill now moves to the South Carolina House of Representatives, where it will need to be approved before the legislative session ends in about a month.

The takeaway

This legislation highlights the ongoing debate over how to handle Confederate and other controversial monuments, with some arguing they should be preserved as historical artifacts and others pushing for their removal or recontextualization. The bill could make it very difficult for local governments or colleges to take down or modify memorials, even those honoring figures with histories of racism and segregation.