Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 6
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 18-20, 2025, is 1,818 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 6 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has nine bills, one joint resolution, and two concurrent resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Some bills that will generate debate include:
H.3558 (Commissioners to Article V Convention)
H.3430 (state auditor)
H.3431 (minors and social media)
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has eight bills, eight joint resolutions, and one concurrent resolution eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Two bills, S.26 (watercraft liability insurance) and S.28 (child abuse via artificial intelligence), have objections against them.
S.213 (Greenville Airport Commission)
S.35 (comptroller general constitutional amendment)
S.143 (orders of protection)
S.180 (orders of protection)
S.77 (livestream school board meetings)
S.78 (educator credential prior work experience credit)
S.169 (lottery tickets)
S.348 through S.354 are Senate LCI regulation joint resolutions
H.3003 (Pickens County road naming resolution)
Committee action will likely generate more news than floor sessions.
House Ways and Means Committee will markup the FY 2025-2026 General Appropriations Bill.
How much will income taxes be cut?
How much new money will be directed towards increasing teacher salaries?
How much new money will be required to pay for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery costs?
Which agency projects will be prioritized and which ones will need to make their case in the Senate?
House Education and Public Works will debate S.62 (K-12 lottery scholarships), the school choice bill to resolve the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision in Eidson v. Department of Education.
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on tort reform will start its markups on S.184 (dram shop/liquor liability) and S.244 (tort reform plus dram shop).
Week 5 Review
House floor sessions consumed 5 hours, 39 minutes. The House passed 17 bills and one joint resolution, as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Priority legislation that passed the House last week included:
Senate floor sessions consumed 5 hours, 23 minutes. The Senate passed four bills and one joint resolution, as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
S.29 (morphed images of minors)
S.38 (special elections)
S.74 (electronic records disclosure)
S.271 (PSC elections)
The Board of Economic Advisors met on February 13 and the state’s economy continues to grow at a strong pace. The BEA increased its revenue forecast for FY 2025-2026 by $132.5M in additional recurring general fund revenue (approximately $666M to appropriate) and $131.2M in additional non-recurring general funding revenue (approximately $1.25B to appropriate).
Committee Schedule Week 6
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 Committee
February 18, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The full committee will debate the FY 2025-2026 General Appropriations Bill. Expect the committee to meet multiple times this week, tackling provisos on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. “Spreadsheet Day” may be Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning, depending on the work of the subcommittee chairs. By Thursday afternoon expect a final budget agreement to be approved by the full committee.
Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees (7 budget hearings)
Constitutional, February 18, upon adjournment of full Senate Finance Committee; Agenda; Livestream
Criminal Justice, February 19 at 8:45am; Agenda; Livestream
Health & Human Services, February 19 at 10am; Agenda
Natural Resources & Economic Development, February 19 at 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Transportation, February 19 at 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Higher Education, February 20 at 10am; Agenda
Constitutional, February 20, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate Finance Committee
February 18, 2pm 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.125 (nonprofit housing corporation property tax exemption), S.127 (Catawba Nation police officers participation in PORS), S.264 (municipal annexations), S.291 (FY25 continuing resolution), and S.318 (government efficiency).
Senate Judiciary Committee
February 18, 2pm 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are seven bills on the agenda: S.12 (authorize Santee Cooper joint venture), S.51 (V.C. Summer joint resolution), S.136 (dismissal of pending firearms charges), S.156 (fentanyl induced homicide), S.159 (organized retail crime), S.157 (utility storm damage recovery), and S.183 (drug induced homicide).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 19, 9:30am; 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. Last week, the subcommittee announced that any proposed amendments should be submitted by February 20.
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 19, 9:30am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.79 (school district noncertified teachers). In a rare move, this bill was sent back to subcommittee after a motion was made at the full committee meeting on February 12.
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
February 19, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one appointment, one DNR regulation, and two bills on the agenda: S.165 (Conservation Education Act) and S.219 (snapper-grouper fishery).
Senate Banking & Insurance Subcommittee
February 19, 11am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.163 (cryptocurrency).
Senate Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
February 19, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive a presentation from the Department of Children’s Advocacy.
Senate Transportation Committee
February 19, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two SCDOT regulations and two bills on the agenda: S.275 (EV charging stations) and S.307 (peer-to-peer car sharing services)
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 19, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: S.52 (DUI), S.168 (CWP program), S.192 (DUI blood draw), and S.208 (felony reckless driving).
Senate LCI Committee
February 20, 9am; Agenda (TBA); Livestream
Summary: As of February 16 the agenda has not been posted but there are four bills with favorable reports from LCI subcommittees: S.268 (age-appropriate code design), S.101 (firefighters), S.171 (waste tires), and S.176 (public accountants).
Senate Corrections & Penology Committee
February 20, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
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 Fish, Game and Forestry Subcommittee
February 20, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.337 (blue catfish) and S.345 (baiting areas & bobwhite quail).
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
February 20, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There are eight regulations on the agenda.
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
February 20, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are seven bills on the agenda: S.287 (electronic nicotine delivery systems), S.161 (non-opioid medications), S.221 (Kratom Consumer Protection Act), S.2 (behavioral healthcare agency restructuring), S.236 (anesthesiologist assistants), S.170 (mandate surgical smoke evacuation systems) and S.310 (St. Jude resolution).
However, before the legislation there is a very important appointment for consideration. Ms. Eunice Medina, Governor McMaster’s nominee for Director of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 20, 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 Regulations Health Subcommittee
February 18, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six regulations on the agenda.
House Judiciary Committee
February 18, 60 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.3654 (authorize disclosure of case records to county and state guardian ad litems), H.3048 (coroner qualifications), H.3127 (felony failure to stop) and H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act).
House LCI Regulatory Review Subcommittee
February 18, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act).
House 3M Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee
February 18, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3089 (personal injury insurance claims) and H.3842 (handicapped parking placards).
House Agriculture Wildlife Subcommittee
February 18, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3872 (Hunting Heritage Protection Act) and H.3945 (aerial management of feral hogs & coyotes).
House Agriculture Subcommittee
February 18, immediately upon adjournment of the Wildlife Subcommittee; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3279 (Equine Promotion Act), H.3473 (exempt agriculture structures from stormwater management), and H.3629 (Forestry Commission).
House Education & Public Works Motor Vehicles Subcommittee
February 18, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3856 (omnibus licenses and license plates bill) and H.4011 (temporary driving certificate or identification card).
House LCI Banking & Insurance Subcommittee
February 19, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3259 (first responder auto insurance premiums)
House LCI Public Utilities Subcommittee
February 19, 60 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3571 (underground facility damage prevention) and H.3756 (utility storm damage recovery).
House Education & Public Works Committee
February 19, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.62 (K-12 lottery scholarships). This bill is moving straight to full committee and bypassing the K-12 Subcommittee.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
February 19, 30 minutes upon adjournment or 1pm whichever is later; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will consider proposed amendments to the South Carolina Rules of Family Court, Rules of Procedure for the Administrative Law Court, and Rules of Procedure for the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings.
House Education & Public Works Transportation Subcommittee
February 20, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3801 (procurement code exemptions for transportation planning), H.3768 (extend sunset of Act 36 of 2019), and H.3944 (max weights for EV vehicles).
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
February 2, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.3305 (Public Expression Protection Act), H.3459 (voter registration), H.3556 (political party nominating contests), and H.3557 (candidate filing).
House LCI Real Estate Subcommittee
February 29, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3447 (homeowners association authority) and H.3947 (continuing education requirements for nonresident real estate brokers).
House Regulations Education and Administrative Subcommittee
February 20, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are 19 regulations on the agenda.
House Economic Development and Utility Modernization Ad Hoc Committee
February 20, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: The committee will receive a presentation from the Department of Commerce regarding small business and existing South Carolina industry.
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 21-24, 2025: Senate floor budget deliberations
May 8, 2025: Session Adjourns
July 1, 2025: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 begins
