The Hometown Legislative Action Day draws local officials from all over the state to Columbia to receive updates on current legislative issues, visit their local legislators at the State House and connect with legislators at the Association’s annual legislative reception.
Tuesday, January 20
- 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration
- 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Opening General Session
- 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break
- 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. General Session – Agreeing to Disagree
Dave Wilson, chief strategist for McAlister Communications, and Antjuan Seawright, founder and CEO of Blueprint Strategy, LLC, are back to talk about how to disagree about politics and agree to be friends. Join these two veteran political strategists for a conversation about upcoming elections and how to be civil even through disagreement. - 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. General Session – Legislative Report
- 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Lunch and Graduation: Municipal Elected Officials Institute and Advanced Institute*
- 1:45 – 3:00 p.m. State House Visits
- 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. General Session – Navigating the Federal Earmark Process
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending, often referred to as Community Project Funding or earmarks, in federal appropriation bills. These dollars are available to municipalities. Participants will gain an understanding of the appropriations process and timing, and gain tips for a successful application. Following the session, Congressional staffers will be available to provide technical input to individual cities and towns regarding their applications. - 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break
- 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. General Session – Working With the SCDOT
SC Transportation Secretary Justin Powell shares his perspective on the SC Department of Transportation with local leaders and how cities and towns can work together to strengthen the state’s infrastructure. - 4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Break
- 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
Hot Topics
This fast-paced session will provide quick updates and guidance on a variety of issues important to cities and towns.
Mayors’ Forum
All mayors are invited to participate in the Mayors’ Forum, sponsored by the Association of SC Mayors. - 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Taste of South Carolina – Legislative Reception
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner on your own with your legislators
*Officials who have completed all requirements for the MEO Institute or the Advanced MEO Institute and those who are scheduled to complete the requirements on Wednesday will be recognized.
Note the new event location at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Hometown Legislative Action Day
The $180 registration fee includes lunch, the reception and all meeting materials. Lunch is a ticketed event. A guest lunch ticket is available for Hometown Legislative Action Day only. Coworkers, city staff and city officials are not considered guests and must register at the full registration fee. The preregistration deadline is January 8. On-site registration will be available for anyone who misses the preregistration deadline.
Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
The $125 fee for Session A, Session B, the Advanced Institute and Advanced Continuing Education includes registration, educational materials and lunch for the registrant only. See the MEO Institute brochure for more information on this training. Preregistration is required. The deadline is January 8.
Register
Visit the Hometown Legislative Action Day page to register online and for more information about Hometown Legislative Action Day, the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government and Advanced Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government.
Hotel Information
The Municipal Association has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Columbia Center, 924 Senate St. When making reservations, indicate that you will be attending the Municipal Association’s conference to ensure you receive the conference rate ($204 plus tax). To make reservations, call 1.803.744.7800 (use group code C-92J) or select the link for the 2026 Hometown Legislative Action Day. Registrants will be directed to the hotel’s reservation system to make reservations online. Make reservations by December 20 to guarantee the conference rate.
Additionally, a room block is available at the Hampton Inn Downtown Historic District located at 822 Gervais St. When making reservations, indicate that you will be attending the Municipal Association’s conference to ensure you receive the conference rate ($184 plus tax). To make reservations, call 1.803.231.2000 (use group code C-924) or select the link for the 2026 Hometown Legislative Action Day. Registrants will be directed to the hotel’s reservation system to make reservations online. Make reservations by December 20 to guarantee the conference rate.
Session A or Session B
Wednesday, January 21 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government is a training program that provides municipal elected officials with a basic understanding of key areas of municipal government. To graduate from the MEO Institute, officials must complete Session A, Session B and five online courses available online. These five courses are also held once a year at the five designated councils of governments’ locations. See the MEO Institute brochure for more details.
Before registering, refer to your MEO Institute transcript to determine which session to take. Sessions A and B cannot be taken on the same day. Session A must be taken before enrolling in Session B. Transcripts are available to officials by logging on the MEO page with your personal identification number and password. Municipal clerks have online access to transcripts for all elected officials from their municipality.
On January 21, check in at the Municipal Association’s registration desk at the Convention Center beginning at 8 a.m. to pick up meeting materials. Sessions A and B begin promptly at 9 a.m. Officials must attend the entire day of training (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) to receive credit. Sign-in sheets are kept throughout the day. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided for registrants only. Guests are not permitted to attend the sessions or lunch.
Wednesday, January 21 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The advanced program provides elected officials who are graduates of the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government an option for continuing education. Graduates can choose to attend one of two courses offered annually on the day after Hometown Legislative Action Day and one of two courses offered each fall. To graduate from the Advanced MEO Institute, officials must complete at least four courses.
Advanced courses will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Attendance for the entire day of training is required to receive credit. Sign-in sheets are kept throughout the day. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided for registrants only. Guests are not permitted to attend the sessions or lunch.
Advanced Courses (Choose one)
• Municipal Utility Policy and Administration
• Public Safety Policy and Administration
Wednesday, January 21 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Advanced Continuing Education track provides the Municipal Association’s top level of graduates with a pathway to stay current on the latest issues in local government. This session focuses on current topics and will be available exclusively to Advanced MEO Institute graduates.
The Advanced Continuing Education session is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided for registrants only. Guests are not permitted to attend the sessions or lunch.
ACE Session Topics
• 9 a.m. – noon Speak to Connect
• 1 – 4 p.m. AI Essentials for Decision Makers: From Prompts to Policy