SC S0540

Amends the definition of "child abuse or neglect" to explicitly exclude parents who raise a child consistent with the child's biological sex, seek mental healthcare to help a child live consistent with their sex, or decline to consent to gender transition services

Prohibits courts from considering it contrary to a child's best interests in custody determinations when a parent raises a child consistent with their sex or declines gender transition healthcare

Creates new protections for adoption agencies, foster care providers, and religious organizations, prohibiting the state from taking discriminatory action against them for providing or declining services based on sincerely held religious beliefs

Protects foster and adoptive parents from adverse state action for raising children consistent with the child's biological sex or declining to consent to gender transition services

Allows individuals to sue the state for violations of these protections and recover declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorney's fees