Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 16
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 29 - May 1, 2025, is 1,720 words or a 7 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 16 Preview
There are six legislative days remaining in the 2025 regular session. The current sine die resolution only permits a budget conference report. There are currently zero bills are in the status of a conference committee. In order for a bill to be ratified it will need third reading by May 8, otherwise the bill will have to wait until 2026. If a bill has passed one chamber but doesn’t receive second reading by the other chamber by May 7, it will not be ratified this year.
This week is likely the last week for most subcommittee and full committee meetings that have legislation that could be ratified this year. There are 48 Senate bills and five Senate joint resolutions pending before the House or a House committee. There are 83 House bills and two House joint resolutions pending before the Senate or a Senate committee.
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 14 bills (1 on the contested calendar) and two joint resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are two Senate bills on the House calendar. Some bills that may generate debate include:
H.3645 (increase state employee paid parental leave)
H.3758 (student expression of religious viewpoints)
S.78 (educator credential prior work experience credit)
H.3309 (Energy Security Act) is on the calendar under Senate amendments
H.3822 (motion picture & theater production tax incentives)
Another legislative priority, H.3497 (liquor liability), was amended by the Senate but rather than appearing on the calendar, the bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. House Rule 4.8 requires the Speaker to “commit to a committee any bill, joint resolution, or concurrent resolution returned from the Senate with an amendment that has so materially changed the bill that the bill’s contents, as amended by the Senate, are no longer substantially germane to the bill, joint resolution, or concurrent resolution as it passed the House.”
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 54 bills (22 are contested), 13 joint resolutions (2 are contested), and two concurrent resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 15 House bills (3 are contested) and two House concurrent resolutions on the Senate calendar. Some bills that may generate debate include:
S.62 (K-12 scholarships)
S.156 (fentanyl induced homicide)
S.164 (tolling of regulations)
S.163 (cryptocurrency)
S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability)
S.121 (adoption proceedings)
S.346 (assault & battery)
H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act)
H.3650 (discharge firearm at a dwelling)
S.268 (age-appropriate code design)
S.583 (funeral directors continuing education)
H.3431 (minors and social media)
The Senate is expected to spend as much time as necessary to debate and pass S.62 (K-12 scholarships). The bill will likely face another legal challenge and the Republican leadership in both chambers is committed to enacting the bill quickly so the legal process can begin.
Week 15 Review
House floor sessions consumed 7 hours, 7 minutes. The House passed 17 bills, one joint resolution, five concurrent resolutions, and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the House last week included:
H.3058 (disclosure of intimate images)
S.74 (electronic records disclosure)
H.3258 (mobile panic alert systems)
H.3778 (Hurricane Helene make up days)
H.3129 (personal delivery robots)
H.3258 (mobile panic alert systems)
H.4134 (Angel Investor Tax Credit Act)
H.3996 (anesthesiologist assistants)
H.3931 (coastal tidelands and wetlands permits)
H.3800 (durable medical equipment)
Senate floor sessions consumed 24 hours, 34 minutes. The Senate passed six bills and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
S.534 (removal of State Treasurer)
H.4025 (FY26 General Appropriations Act) and H.4026 (capital reserve fund)
H.3196 (Educator Assistance Act)
S.221 (Kratom Consumer Protection Act)
H.4187 (Lexington County sales tax)
Committee Schedule Week 16
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 LCI Special Subcommittee
April 29, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.274 (unemployment benefits) and H.3752 (Social Work Interstate Compact).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 29, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.428 (fraudulent check expungement), S.455 (create crime of strangulation), and H.3058 (disclosure of intimate images).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 29, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four appointments on the agenda; one to the State Ethics Commission and three to the Human Affairs Commission.
Senate Judiciary Committee
April 29, 3pm or 15 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are eight bills and eight appointments on the agenda:
S.428 (fraudulent check expungement)
S.455 (create crime of strangulation)
H.3058 (disclosure of intimate images)
H.3222 (litter control officers)
H.3305 (Public Expression Protection Act)
H.3571 (underground facility damage prevention)
H.3910 (concurrent jurisdiction regarding juveniles)
H.4160 (increase circuit court judges)
State Ethics Commission Appointments (3)
Human Affairs Commission Appointments (3)
Inspector General Confirmation
Workers’ Compensation Commission Appointment (1)
Senate Finance Committee
April 29, 3pm or 15 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.439 (manufacturing property tax exemption), S.102 (operating millage rates), and S.266 (durable medical equipment).
Senate LCI Committee
April 30, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.274 (unemployment benefits), H.3752 (Social Work Interstate Compact), and S.256 (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience Act).
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
April 30, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.449 (collaborative practice agreements), S.477 (self-administered hormonal contraceptive), H.4067 (hospital emergency departments), S.343 (COVID-19 vaccine informed consent), and H.4261 (Blood Cancer Awareness Month). Additionally, there are five appointments to LLR boards. The meeting may recede and reconvene 15 minutes upon adjournment on April 30.
Senate Education Committee
April 30 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four appointments on the agenda.
Senate Transportation Committee
April 30, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda, S.585 (Safeguarding American Families Everywhere (SAFE) Act), and seven appointments to the South Carolina Ports Authority.
Senate FVS Subcommittee
April 30, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.383 (official state migratory bird). The proposed bird is the Prothonotary Warbler.
Senate Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
April 30, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: As of April 26 no agenda has been posted.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
April 30, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four regulations on the agenda.
Senate FVS Child Welfare Subcommittee
May 1, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.331 (infant safe havens & safety boxes).
Senate Corrections and Penology Committee
May 1, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one appointment on the agenda.
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
May 1, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five appointments to LLR boards and 12 regulations on the agenda. Any bills remaining from the April 30 meeting may be considered at this meeting.
House Meetings
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
April 29, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will discuss the study of the SC Tuition Grants Commission.
House Judiciary DRBP Subcommittee
April 29, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are nine bills on the agenda:
H.3009 (DSS enforcement of alimony)
H.3029 (spousal benefits offset for alimony)
H.3074 (15 year marriage requirement for periodic alimony)
H.3078 (mutual adultery exception to alimony)
H.3081 (income-based alimony limitation)
H.3098 (removal of periodic alimony)
H.3104 (alimony earnings calculation)
H.3605 (define earning potential for alimony)
H.3607 (define supported spouse)
House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee
April 29, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are 11 bills on the agenda:
S.103 (Truth in Meat Labeling)
S.165 (Conservation Education Act)
S.219 (snapper-grouper fishery)
S.345 (baiting areas & bobwhite quail)
S.367 (abandoned vessels)
S.425 (school-based meals)
H.3214 (public school canneries pilot program)
H.3223 (veterinarian telehealth)
H.3950 (soil classifiers)
H.3967 (bioenergy forest products)
H.4168 (water and sewer systems extension)
House Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee
April 29, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: S.28 (child abuse via artificial intelligence), S.29 (morphed images of minors), H.3405 (App Store Accountability Act), and H.4123 (Protection of Minors from Pornography and Obscenities Act).
House 3M Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee
April 29, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.4165 (non-opioid pain management treatments), H.4186 (portable cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician operations), H.4342 (restricted dentistry instructor license), and H.4343 (human trafficking awareness and prevention training for medical professionals).
House LCI Banking and Insurance Subcommittee
April 29, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3874 (workers’ compensation medical fees), S.210 (captive insurance companies), and S.220 (Insurance Holding Company Regulatory Act).
House Education & Public Works K-12 Education Subcommittee
April 29, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.4339 (Healthy School Meals Act), S.269 (school district private security firms), S.77 (livestream school board meetings), and S.79 (school district noncertified teachers).
House Education & Public Works Committee
April 29, Immediately upon adjournment of the K-12 Subcommittee; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are seven bills on the agenda:
H.3974 (medically necessary providers in public school)
H.4163 (SC High School Athletic Association Act)
H.3802 (co-curricular participation)
H.4339 (Healthy School Meals Act)
S.269 (school district private security firms)
S.77 (livestream school board meetings)
S.79 (school district noncertified teachers)
House 3M Military and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
May 1, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3453 (veterans' children tuition assistance) and H.4385 (veterans’ nursing homes).
Joint Meetings
Agency Salary Head Commission
April 29, 11am; Agenda
Summary: The committee will consider nine salary requests.
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
