Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 4
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 February 4-6, 2025, is 1,810 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
Senate Budget Calendar (TBA)
FY 2025-2026 Agency Budget Requests
Week 4 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (2pm), and Thursday (10am). The House has zero bills, one joint resolution, and four concurrent resolutions on its calendar eligible for debate to begin the week. There are no bills on the contested calendar.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 11 bills, one joint resolution, and one concurrent resolution on its calendar to begin the week; none has a printed objection.
S.213 (Greenville Airport Commission)
H.3792 (Clarendon County School District)
S.62 (K-12 lottery scholarships)
S.253 (state audit support)
S.89 (SC Military Affairs Council)
S.103 (Truth in Meat labeling)
S.218 (veterans’ nursing homes)
H.3727 (SC Code of Laws adoption)
S.26 (watercraft liability insurance)
S.164 (tolling of regulations)
S.167 ( South Carolina Waterways Protection Act)
S.238 (legislative session extension)
S.292 (2025 sine die resolution)
A joint assembly will be held on Wednesday, February 5 at 12pm for the purposes of judicial elections in accordance with S.237.
There are 52 judicial elections between seats on the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Family Court, and the Administrative Law Court. The Judicial Merit Selection Committee report was published on January 16. While all judgeships are consequential, the most closely watched will be Seat 2 on the Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy when Associate Justice Letitia Verdin was elected to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Three candidates were found qualified and nominated for this seat. This will be the final set of elections under the current selection process, as the provisions of Act 219 of 2024 take effect July 1, 2025. As we have written time and time again, after the budget, judicial elections are the most important and most political activity undertaken by the General Assembly each year.
Week 3 Review
House floor sessions consumed 4 hours, 58 minutes. One bill was passed: H.3792 (Clarendon County School District). However, the overwhelming majority of House floor time was during the debate on H.3815, a House resolution amending the House Rules. After several amendments were proposed and tabled, the amended rules were adopted by a 63-38 vote with House Democrats and House Freedom Caucus members joining forces in opposition to the rules amendments. Ten members had leave before the final vote, meaning 11 House members present (two vacancies) did not vote on the adoption of the resolution. The changes were as follows:
Eliminate the motion period, which was rarely used during the past 20 years
Eliminate the use of the Committee of the Whole, another rarely used procedure
Eliminate the April 10 Crossover Deadline, matching the Senate’s action
Clarify Rule 4.4 regarding committee meetings
Add Rule 2.17 regarding House officers (Clerk, Reading Clerk, Chaplain, and Sergeant at Arms) by prohibiting them from public reflections regarding their personal political beliefs or opinions concerning issues, campaigns, or other matters before the General Assembly.
Senate floor sessions consumed 14 hours, 6 minutes. The overwhelming majority of Senate floor time was during the debate on S.62 (K-12 lottery scholarships) and several amendments were adopted. This is the Senate bill to respond to the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision in Eidson v. Department of Education, where the Court struck down the use of Educational Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) accounts to pay for private school tuition as created by Act 8 of 2023.
Governor McMaster delivered his annual State of the State Address on Wednesday, January 29 and a video recording of it is available on SCETV.
Committee Schedule Week 4
If a live stream link is not provided with a committee meeting that means no live stream is 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.
House Ways & Means Budget Subcommittees (11 budget hearings)
Healthcare; February 4, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Economic Development; February 4, 60 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 4, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Higher Education; February 4, 4pm; Agenda; Livestream
Criminal Justice; February 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Economic Development; February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Public Education; February 5, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Criminal Justice; February 5, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Criminal Justice; February 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees (2 budget hearings)
Criminal Justice, February 5, 8:45am; Agenda; Livestream
K-12 Education, February 6, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate Finance Sales & Income Tax Subcommittee
February 4, 2pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one joint resolution and one bill on the agenda: S.291 (FY25 continuing resolution) and S.47 (childcare tax credits).
Senate Finance Sales & Income Tax Subcommittee
February 4, 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.125 (low income housing) and S.264 (farm property annexations).
Senate Judiciary Committee
February 4, 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are ten bills on the agenda:
S.12 (authorize Santee Cooper joint venture)
S.28 (child abuse via artificial intelligence)
S.29 (morphed images of minors)
S.35 (comptroller general constitutional amendment)
S.38 (special elections)
S.51 (V.C. Summer joint resolution)
S.74 (electronic records disclosure)
S.143 (orders of protection)
S.180 (orders of protection)
S.271 (PSC elections)
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 5, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.169 (lottery tickets)
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.161 (non-opioid medications), S.221 (Kratom Consumer Protection Act), and S.287 (electronic nicotine delivery systems).
Senate Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future
February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The special committee will hear testimony on possible legislation solutions for large energy users.
Senate Transportation Committee
February 5, 11am; Agenda
Summary: There are four appointments and two SCDOT regulations on the agenda.
Senate Corrections & Penology Subcommittee
February 6, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There is one confirmation hearing on the agenda: Mr. Jake Gadsden, the nominee for Director of the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services.
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
February 6, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.2 (behavioral healthcare agency restructuring). This legislation is a top priority for Governor McMaster and several members of legislative leadership.
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Subcommittee
February 6, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill and four DNR regulations on the agenda: S.219 (snapper-grouper fishery).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 6, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.184 (dram shop/liquor liability) and S.244 (tort reform plus dram shop). These bills are priority legislation for the hospitality and alcohol industries, as well as the broader business community regarding tort reform efforts.
House Meetings
House Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee
February 4, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.3431 (minors and social media), H.3058 (intimate images), H.3399 (mandate filters on smartphones/tablets), and H.3798 (military chaplains & privileged communications).
House Education & Public Works Public Safety Subcommittee
February 4, 1 hour upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3292 (golf carts).
House 3M Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee
February 4, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3022 (long-term care council) and H.3254 (permanent medical licenses).
House Judiciary Committee
February 4, 2:30pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are nine bills on the agenda:
H.3523 (organized retail theft)
H.3007 (Convention of States balanced budget)
H.3008 (Convention of States term limits)
H.3558 (Convention of States commissioners)
H.3529 (family court judges)
H.3570 (economic interests disclosures)
H.3020 (delete crime of playing pinball)
H.3432 (grantor trust reimbursement)
H.3502 (child welfare proceedings)
House Education & Public Works K-12 Education Subcommittee
February 4, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.3862 (charter school enrollment preferences), H.3196 (Educator Assistance Act), H.3195 (physical education requirements), and H.3247 (work-based learning experiences).
House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Subcommittee
February 4, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3656 (right to repair septic tanks/wells) and H.3814 (Surface Water Study Committee).
House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Wildlife Subcommittee
February 4, immediately upon adjournment of the House Ag Environmental Affairs Subcommittee; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3813 (bear hunting).
House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee
February 5, 8:30am; Agenda
Summary: There are 20 regulations on the agenda.
House 3M Municipal and Public Affairs Subcommittee
February 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3222 (litter control officers) and H.3230 (cemeteries).
House Education & Public Works Committee
February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee agenda has not been posted as of February 2 but very likely it will include the five bills on the two subcommittee agendas held on February 4: H.3862 (charter school enrollment preferences), H.3196 (Educator Assistance Act), H.3195 (physical education requirements), H.3247 (work-based learning experiences), and H.3292 (golf carts).
House Judiciary DRBP Subcommittee
February 5, 10:30am; Agenda
Summary: There are ten bills on the agenda; all bills except for one are related to guardian ad litems (GALs).
H.3472 (small estates)
H.3013 (qualifications to serve as a GAL in private family court case)
H.3079 (prohibit certain ex parte communications by GAL in private actions)
H.3080 (responsibilities of GALs in private actions)
H.3084 (appointment and compensation of an attorney for a GAL)
H.3100 (prohibition on GAL recommendations in private actions)
H.3101 (subject GALs in private actions to investigation by ODC)
H.3103 (GAL in private actions required to be attorneys)
H.3622 (GAL in private custody or visitation cases)
H.3654 (authorize disclosure of case records to county and state GALs)
House 3M Military and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
February 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3510 (county veterans’ affairs officers), H.3563 (evaluation of county veterans’ affairs officers), and H.3564 (SC Military Affairs Council).
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
February 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3497 (liquor liability).
House Regulations and Administrative Procedures Business & Industry Subcommittee
February 6, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are five LLR regulations on the agenda.
House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee
February 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3048 (coroner qualifications), H.3127 (felony failure to stop) and H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act).
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 (tentative)
April 10, 2025: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) April revenue estimate
April 14-18, 2025: House Furlough Week
April 21-25, 2025: Senate floor budget deliberations (tentative)
May 8, 2025: Session Adjourns
July 1, 2025: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 begins
