Hate crime bill beginning to make its way through SC House (Source: WCSC/WIS) By Adam Mintzer | March 9, 2021 at 3:23 PM EST - Updated March 10 at 10:38 AM COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina is one of three states without a hate crime law on the books, but that could soon change. For more than two hours Tuesday, community members interested in voicing their opinions on a bill that would increase the penalty on crimes motivated by hate against a certain group spoke in front of a House subcommittee. The push for a hate crimes bill comes after House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, formed a committee after a summer of protests took place across South Carolina in the wake of the death of George Floyd. A group of business leaders from around the state also came together to ask for the passage of this bill last month.