---
type: "Bill"
title: "Electronic prescriptions"
description: "AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-360, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING IN PART TO ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS, SO AS TO ADD CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS TO ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING REQUIREMENTS AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. - ratified title"
jurisdiction: "us/states/sc"
legislature: "South Carolina General Assembly"
session: "2019-2020"
identifier: "H 4938"
citation: "South Carolina H 4938 (2019-2020)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Ridgeway"]
version_count: 8
action_count: 24
vote_count: 3
first_action: "2020-01-15"
last_action: "2020-10-02"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/d7495bcd-16ff-43c2-b708-518c7a70e19d"
source_url: "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4938&session=123&summary=B"
source_hash: "c254717d69f6f8100c3d6900cec3ab015c269e969ac5c86164f04cca4c8e035b"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-sc"]
---

# South Carolina H 4938 (2019-2020) — Electronic prescriptions

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-360, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING IN PART TO ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS, SO AS TO ADD CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS TO ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING REQUIREMENTS AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. - ratified title

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Filed** (filed) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/bills/4938.htm)
2. **1/15/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200115.htm)
3. **2/20/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200220.htm)
4. **2/24/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200224.htm)
5. **3/3/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200303.htm)
6. **3/4/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200304.htm)
7. **9/15/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200915.htm)
8. **9/16/2020** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/prever/4938_20200916.htm)

## Votes

- Passage of Bill — **95–0** (pass) · lower
- 2nd Reading — **40–1** (pass) · upper
- Concur in Senate Amendments — **108–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Ridgeway — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2020-01-15** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2020-01-15** Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2020-02-20** Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2020-02-24** Scrivener's error corrected
- **2020-02-26** Debate adjourned until Thur., 2-27-20
- **2020-03-03** Amended `amendment-passage`
- **2020-03-03** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2020-03-03** Roll call Yeas-95 Nays-0
- **2020-03-04** Scrivener's error corrected
- **2020-03-04** Read third time and sent to Senate `passage, reading-3`
- **2020-03-04** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2020-03-04** Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2020-09-15** Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2020-09-16** Committee Amendment Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2020-09-16** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2020-09-16** Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-1
- **2020-09-16** Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
- **2020-09-17** Read third time and returned to House with amendments `passage, reading-3`
- **2020-09-22** Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
- **2020-09-22** Roll call Yeas-108 Nays-0
- **2020-09-25** Ratified R 185
- **2020-09-28** Signed By Governor `executive-signature`
- **2020-10-02** Effective date 01/01/21
- **2020-10-02** Act No. 160

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/d7495bcd-16ff-43c2-b708-518c7a70e19d`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official South Carolina legislature records).