Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 14
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Copper Dome Chronicle, sponsored by Advocatus. We strive for substantive writing with brevity, inspired by the book Smart Brevity.
This week’s edition, covering April 15-17, 2025, is 934 words or a 4 minute read. The 126th South Carolina General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 and will adjourn on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
FY 2025-2026 Agency Budget Requests
Week 14 Preview
The House is taking its furlough week. No floor sessions or committee meetings will be held.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 30 bills (19 are contested),10 joint resolutions (2 are contested), and one concurrent resolution on the calendar. Some uncontested legislation that may generate debate:
S.62 (K-12 scholarships)
S.163 (cryptocurrency)
S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability)
S.416 (school district expulsions)
H.3196 (Educator Assistance Act)
Week 13 Review
House floor sessions consumed 7 hours, 47 minutes. The House passed 27 bills, three joint resolutions and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Some legislation that passed the House last week included:
H.3930 (Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act)
S.2 (behavioral healthcare agency restructuring)
H.3127 (felony failure to stop)
H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act)
S.156 (fentanyl induced homicide)
H.3578 (cursive writing grades 3-5)
H.3831 (AED mandate)
H.4160 (increase circuit court judges)
S.126 (law enforcement & judicial personal privacy protection)
H.3569 (domestic violence victims and rental agreements)
S.218 (veterans’ nursing homes)
S.164 (state agency rule making)
The Senate did not meet in statewide session and held three perfunctory sessions for the purposes of messages received from the Governor or the House, introduction of new bills and resolutions, and the receipt of Senate committee reports.
The Senate Finance Committee adopted its version of the budget on April 9. The big news was the announcement by Chairman Peeler that no earmarks would be in the bill this year. Later that day a joint statement was issued by Chairman Peeler and Chairman Bannister that the two chairs had agreed to prioritize income tax cuts and no earmarks would be included in the budget.
Take 6 minutes to read our recap of the Senate Finance Committee version of the budget in preparation for the Senate floor debate during the week of April 21.
The Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) met on April 10. The state’s economy remains strong however, due to the uncertainty of spending, tax, and trade policy in Washington, the revenue estimates for FY25 and FY26 remained the same as the February estimates.
Committee Schedule Week 14
If a livestream link is not provided with a committee meeting that means livestream is not available. Additional meetings may be added during the week and while 24 hours notice is generally given, it is not always possible to provide such notice.
Senate Meetings
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
April 15, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six regulations from the Department of Environmental Services on the agenda. Additionally, the committee will consider the nomination of Myra Reece to be Director, Department of Environmental Services.
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 15, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.427 (penalties for mistreating a law enforcement animal) and S.447 (license plate readers).
Senate Finance Sales and Income Tax Subcommittee
April 15, 15 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.266 (durable medical equipment) and S.507 (IRS conformity).
Senate Finance Property Tax Subcommittee
April 15, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.97 (county treasurer qualifications), S.98 (county auditor qualifications), S.102 (operating millage rates), S.317 (house boat property taxes), and S.439 (manufacturing property tax exemption).
Senate Judiciary Committee
April 15, 2pm or 15 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are 15 bills on the agenda:
S.52 (DUI)
S.99 (enhanced penalties for assault crimes)
S.114 (telecommunication location information)
S.208 (felony reckless driving)
S.214 (Minority Affairs Commission)
S.288 (development rights transfer)
S.316 (Attorney General & civil litigation)
S.346 (assault & battery)
S.357 (mail theft)
S.399 (public transit trespass)
H.3432 (grantor trust reimbursement)
H.3472 (small estates)
H.3650 (discharge firearm at a dwelling)
S.427 (penalties for mistreating a law enforcement animal)
S.447 (license plate readers)
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
April 16, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will receive three presentations on the state of the South Carolina forestry industry.
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
April 16, 9:30am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4067 (hospital emergency departments) and S.343 (COVID-19 vaccine informed consent). Additionally, there is one regulation on the agenda regarding air quality.
Senate Banking & Insurance Committee
April 16, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3259 (first responder auto insurance premiums), S.196 (insurance adjusters), and S.325 (Department of Consumer Affairs). Additionally, there are three regulations on the agenda.
Senate Transportation Subcommittee
April 16, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: S.222 (utility terrain vehicles), S.387 (medium speed vehicles), H.3292 (golf carts on secondary roads after sunset), and S.59 (increased penalties for driving without a license).
Senate LCI Professions and Occupations Subcommittee
April 16, 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.347 (Commercial Financing Disclosure Act) and S.422 (State Board of Pyrotechnic Safety).
Senate Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
April 16, 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: This is the third subcommittee meeting about the South Carolina Department on Aging.
Senate Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
April 17, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: This is the second subcommittee meeting about the South Carolina Attorney General.
Senate FVS Special Subcommittee
April 17, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.383 (official state migratory bird). The proposed bird is the Prothonotary Warbler.
Photo Credit: Chrissy McClarren & Andy Reago
Key Dates
January 14, 2025: Session Convenes
January 16, 2025: Judicial Merit Selection Commission final report published
January 29, 2025: State of the State
February 5, 2025: Judicial elections
February 13, 2025: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) February revenue estimate
March 10-14, 2025: House floor budget deliberations
March 17-21, 2025: House Furlough Week (committee meetings only)
April 10, 2025: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) April revenue estimate
April 14-18, 2025: House Furlough Week
April 21-24, 2025: Senate floor budget deliberations
May 8, 2025: Session Adjourns
July 1, 2025: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 begins
