House and Senate members met in regular session on Wednesday and Thursday. Both chambers spent long hours on the floor on Wednesday with senators debating a driving-under-the-influence bill and House members debating a transgender bathroom bill.
House Ways and Means Committee members are working through subcommittee testimony on the budget and budget provisos. Senators continued meeting in a Transportation subcommittee hearing testimony on S831, the Senate version of the SC Department of Transportation modernization bill. No action has been taken on the bill. The long-anticipated House DOT modernization bill, H5071, was introduced Thursday and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. For questions about both SCDOT modernization bills, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
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.
House Judiciary Committee
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 Public Utilities subcommittee
H4386 – Public utility acquiring water or sewer property or assets – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the Public Service Commission to make considerations for a public utility to acquire property or assets used to provide water or sewer services owned by a county, municipality or special purpose district.
Senate Family and Veterans’ Services Committee
S832 – University campus zoning for events – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits a county or municipality from restricting, delaying, prohibiting or requiring land use approval for events held on the campus of a state-supported institution of higher learning based on zoning ordinances or land use classifications.
S718 – Removal of people from a vehicle park – favorable report as amended. The amendment adds a definition.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Outlines the conditions when the operator of any recreational vehicle park may remove any transient guest of the park.
House Judiciary Domestic Relations, Business and Probate Law subcommittee
H3113 – Newborn safety devices – no action, although it was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows infant safe havens to use newborn safety devices in addition to employees of the safe haven.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Real Estate subcommittee
H4338 – Prohibits municipalities from limiting use of exterior cladding – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits a city or town from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that prohibits or limits the use of a specific style of exterior cladding or finish materials for residential or commercial buildings that is more restrictive than state or national building codes. The Municipal Association testified in opposition to this bill.
House Ways and Means Economic Development subcommittee
H5006 – State of South Carolina Small Business Tax Cut of 2026 – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Exempts the first $10,000 of net depreciated value of business personal property owned by a small business.
H3551 – Compensation paid to managers of clerks of elections – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Clarifies that earnable compensation as it relates to the SC Retirement System does not include certain amounts paid to managers and clerks of elections.