A bill to legalize MMA in South Carolina received its third and final reading in the South Carolina Senate on Wednesday (5/13) and was enrolled for ratification on the same day. Pursuant to the South Carolina legislative process, this means that the bill needs to be written into “Act form” by legislative counsel and ratified by the House (where the Bill originated). After ratification by the House, the Act will be sent to the Governor who has 5 days to either approve or veto the Act. The Act becomes effective upon approval by the Governor (See Section 10 of the Act at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/prever/3042_20090507.htm).
All that being said, based on the information being reported on most MMA blogs and sites (See, e.g., http://www.mmafightstage.com/2009/05/big-vote-in-south-carolina-today-over-mma-ban/; http://mmamania.com/2009/05/08/south-carolina-to-vote-today-on-lifting-ban-on-mma/), it doesn’t look like there is any major opposition to the law in South Carolina. Thus, a veto by the Governor seems unlikely.
Good deal – another state comes to its senses. Once the Act is ratified, South Carolina will be the 38th state to legalize MMA.
