House and Senate members met in regular session on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. House members continued meeting in budget subcommittees, while senators began floor debate on a driving-under-the-influence bill.
Sen. Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley) introduced, S831, a Senate version of the SC Department of Transportation modernization bill, this week and held a subcommittee meeting hearing testimony from SC Transportation Secretary Justin Powell. House members have not introduced their version of the bill yet. For questions about both versions of the SCDOT modernization bill, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
The House Ways and Means Criminal Justice subcommittee is working on recommendations to the full committee on the SC Department of Juvenile Justice per diem proviso in the state budget. Please contact the House members in your legislative delegation to explain to them how the increased amount in this year’s budget is affecting local budgets and law enforcement decisions. For questions about the DJJ proviso, contact Daina Riley Phillips (dphillips@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203.
From the Dome to Your Home podcast
Don’t forget to listen to the From the Dome to Your Home podcast every Friday for a recap of the week’s legislative issues and a look to the week ahead at the State House.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
H3556 – Election protests – favorable report as amended to allow the Supreme Court to establish its own filing fee.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the state executive committee of a political party to hear primary protests and contests in the case of county officers, less than county officers and municipal officers.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Business and Commerce subcommittee
H4709 – Iron and steel requirements for public works projects – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires a public entity that enters into a contract for a public works project to set a requirement in the contract that any iron or steel product purchased for the project must be produced in the United States.
Senate Finance Committee
S768 – Increase in homestead exemption amount – favorable report as amended. The amendment increases the age to 65 years old, increases the amount of the exemption to $150,000 and includes a residency requirement of 5 years. The amendment also allows the county to increase the exemption beyond $150,000, but any amount over $150,000 is not reimbursable.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Increases the homestead property tax exemption to $100,000, and reduces the age of eligibility to 60 years old.
H4216 – income tax reduction – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Reduces the income tax rates for a flat 3.99% and sets standards for further reductions in the tax. The amended version of the bill establishes two tax rates and provides for an eventual reduction to 0%.
S769 – continuing budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Provides for the continuing authority to pay the expenses of state government if the 2026-2027 fiscal year begins without a general appropriations bill.
S508 – monument and memorial protection – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Withholds disbursements from the Local Government Fund for any county or municipality that removes or relocates monuments or memorials.
House Judiciary Criminal Laws subcommittee
H3774 – Workers compensation claim – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes the filing of a notice in a third-party action in a workers' compensation claim permissive.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Banking and Insurance subcommittee
H4817 – Enacts the Insurance Rate Reduction and Policyholder Protection Act – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to the SC Department of Insurance by creating a Fraud Division separate from the Attorney General's office.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee
H4669 – Changes municipal election dates – the subcommittee did not take action on this bill even though it was on the agenda. Time ran out in the meeting before members had a chance to debate the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires municipal elections to be held on four certain dates including April and November of even and odd years.
S38 – Special elections to fill vacancies – the subcommittee did not take action on this bill even though it was on the agenda. Time ran out in the meeting before members had a chance to debate the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires special elections to fill vacancies in office to be held only on five specific dates.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
H3021 – Enacts the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act – the subcommittee did not take action on this bill although it was on the agenda.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the Small Business Regulatory Review Committee to conduct an initial review of regulations pending reauthorization and make recommendations to the General Assembly for removing or retaining those regulations.
S254 – Enacts the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act – the subcommittee did not take action on this bill although it was on the agenda.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Creates the Small Business Regulatory Review Committee to conduct an initial review of regulations pending reauthorization and make recommendations to the General Assembly.