COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina remains one of only two states without a hate crimes law, which would impose harsher penalties for crimes motivated by bias. In the absence of a state law, more than 20 cities and counties passed their own ordinances to allow fines or additional jail time for hate crimes.

But a new opinion from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is pushing back on those local laws. The office says municipalities do not have the power to create their own laws creating a new criminal offense, and warns that making “hate” or “intimidation” a separate crime could violate both state constitution.

Critics against ordinances like these say it means people will face different penalties based on where they live. In the opinion, Solicitor General Robert Cook writes, "The

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