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H4475 - Property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
4475
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Brandon Guffey
Rep. Heath Sessions
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Category
Finance, Revenue, Taxes
Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Creates a property tax exemption for a nonprofit housing corporation for a percentage that equals the corporation’s ownership interest in the property. 

H4164 - Community development corporation tax credit

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
4164
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. J. David Weeks
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Category
Finance, Revenue, Taxes
Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a tax credit for a taxpayer that invests in a community development corporation or in a community financial institution. 

H4134 - Extends the High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
4134
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Robby Robbins
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Category
Municipal government and operations
Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Authorizes the extension of the High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act until December 31, 2035. 

House Committee Action

04.03.2025 The House Ways and Means Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended by the subcommittee.

H4146 - Local planning

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
4146
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Mark. Smith
Rep. Wm. Weston J. Newton
Rep. Sylleste H. Davis
Rep. Thomas Duval "Val" Guest Jr.
Rep. Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Rep. William G. "Bill" Herbkersman
Rep. Blake Sanders
Category
Planning and Zoning
Committee
House Judiciary Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows local governing authorities to make changes to development rights by ordinance.

H4140 - Extends early voting days and hours before a statewide primary

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
4140
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Category
Elections
Committee
House Judiciary Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced:  Extends early voting days and hours of operation for statewide primaries in addition to statewide general elections.

H3459 - Voter registration requirements for clerks of court

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
3459
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Wm. Weston J. Newton
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Rep. Fawn M. Pedalino
Rep. Bill Taylor
Category
Courts
Committee
House Judiciary Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires municipal clerks of court to report quarterly to the executive director of the State Election Commission all people who have indicated to a juror summons that they are not United States citizens. 

H3429 - Alternative fuel tax credit

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
3429
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Rep. Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV
Category
Utilities
Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Adds electrical equipment to the definition of eligible property for the alternative fuel tax credit, and adds electricity to the definition of alternative fuel. 

H3309 - Enacts the SC Energy Security Act

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
3309
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. G. Murrell Smith Jr.
Rep. Gil Gatch
Rep. William G. "Bill" Herbkersman
Rep. Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Rep. Christopher S. "Chris" Wooten
Rep. Robby Robbins
Rep. Cody T. Mitchell
Rep. Donald G. "Don" Chapman
Rep. Wm. Weston J. Newton
Rep. Bill Taylor
Rep. Cally R. "Cal" Forrest
Rep. Lee Hewitt
Rep. Roger K. Kirby
Category
Utilities
Committee
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
Subcommittee
House LCI - Public Utilities
Status
Signed into law
Staff Summary

Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to the state's energy policy through the Public Service Commission and the regulation of utilities. 

House Subcommittee Action

02.04.2025 The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Public Utilities subcommittee gave this bill a favorable report as amended. The amendments add ratepayer protections and oversight by the Public Utility Review Committee and keeps the consumer advocate at the SC Department of Consumer Affairs. The amendments also encourage the development of nuclear infusion, allows the bill’s language to apply to water and other utilities by removing the word “electric,” and closes loopholes on permit applications.

01.29.2025 The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Public Utilities subcommittee met and heard testimony but did not take action on the bill. 

01.15.2025 The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Public Utilities subcommittee met and heard testimony from stakeholders but did not take action on the bill. 

Senate Subcommittee Action

03.19.2025 A Senate Judiciary subcommittee gave this bill a favorable report as amended. The amendment takes the language back to the previous energy bill that the Senate Judiciary Committee passed last year. 

03.05.2025 A Senate Judiciary subcommittee heard testimony from stakeholders but did not take action on the bill.

House Committee Action

02.05.2025 The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended by the subcommittee.

Senate Committee Action

03.25.2025 The Senate Judiciary Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended. The committee adopted the subcommittee amendment to change language back to the previous year's energy bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The full committee also adopted several amendments dealing with small modular reactors and the feasibility of using domestic wood products to general electricity.

H3556 - Election protests

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
3556
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Category
Elections
Committee
House Judiciary Committee
Status
Passed by the House
Staff Summary

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 Subcommittee Action

02.20.2025 The House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee gave this bill a favorable report.

House Committee Action

03.04.2025 The House Judiciary Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended. The amendment clarifies that only partisan elections advance to the state executive committee and changes bonding language from may to must.

H3551 - Compensation paid to managers of clerks of elections

Advocacy Initiative
Off

Priority Bill
Off

Bill Number
3551
Session
2025 - 2026
Chamber
House
Sponsor
Rep. Brandon Michael Newton
Rep. Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam
Category
Elections
Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
Status
Introduced
Staff Summary

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.