Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 7
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 25-27, 2025, is 1,213 words or a 5 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 7 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has eight 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:
The House is expected to have a long session on Wednesday to debate S.62.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 21 bills (four are contested), 11 joint resolutions, and one Senate resolution eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Some bills that will generate debate include
S.35 (comptroller general constitutional amendment)
S.143 (orders of protection)
S.180 (orders of protection)
S.171 (waste tires)
S.51 (V.C. Summer joint resolution)
S.125 (nonprofit housing corporation property tax exemption)
S.136 (dismissal of pending firearms charges)
S.157 (utility storm damage recovery)
S.159 (organized retail crime)
S.264 (municipal annexations)
S.318 (government efficiency)
H.3523 (organized retail crime)
S.2 (behavioral healthcare agency restructuring)
Week 6 Review
House floor sessions consumed 6 hours, 26 minutes. The House passed eight bills and one joint resolution, as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Priority legislation that passed the House last week included:
The House Ways & Means Committee adopted its version of the FY 2025-2026 General Appropriations Bill. Check out our recap here; it takes less than 4 minutes.
Senate floor sessions consumed 3 hours, 2 minutes. The Senate passed three bills and one joint resolution, as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
S.28 (child abuse via artificial intelligence)
S.77 (livestream school board meetings)
S.78 (educator credential prior work experience credit)
Committee Schedule Week 7
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.
Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees (6 budget hearings)
Constitutional, February 25, upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Health & Human Services, February 26 at 9am; Agenda
K-12 Education, February 26 at 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Natural Resources & Economic Development, February 26 at 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Transportation, February 26 at 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional, February 27, upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate Judiciary Committee
February 25, 2:30pm or 30 minutes 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. On social media, the advocacy efforts have been ratcheted up to levels not seen in several years.
Senate Family & Veterans Services Committee
February 26, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three appointments and one bill on the agenda: S.276 (Child Abuse and Neglect Network).
Senate LCI Regulatory and Local Government Subcommittee
February 26, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are seven regulations on the agenda from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Senate Education Committee
February 26, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four regulations, three appointments, and two bills on the agenda: S.79 (school district noncertified teachers) and H.3247 (work-based learning experiences).
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
February 26, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.54 (medical informed consent) and S.146 (long-term care facilities visitation).
Senate Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
February 26, 10:39am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive a presentation from the South Carolina Attorney General.
Senate Banking & Insurance Committee
February 26, 11am; Agenda
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.163 (cryptocurrency), S.210 (captive insurance companies), and S.220 (Insurance Holding Company Regulatory Act).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 26, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: S.8 (vehicular pursuit), S.111 (failure to stop), S.114 (telecommunication location information), S.126 (law enforcement & judicial personal privacy protection), S.233 (Sexually Violent Predator Act), and S.235 (prostitution).
Senate FVS Child Welfare Subcommittee
February 27, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.121 (adoption proceedings).
Senate LCI Committee
February 27, 9am; Agenda (TBA)
Summary: As of February 24 a meeting agenda has not been posted.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
February 27, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one appointment on the agenda to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
House Meetings
House Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee
February 25 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3045 (child sexual abuse) and H.3387 (unlawful occupants of property).
House Judiciary Committee
February 25, 60 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: H.3650 (discharge firearm at a dwelling), H.3406 (online technological exploitation), H.3460 (disclosure of electronic communications), H.3127 (felony failure to stop), and H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act).
House 3M Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee
February 25, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3842 (handicapped parking placards), H.4067 (hospital emergency departments), and H.4069 (patient billing).
House LCI Committee
February 25, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act), H.3756 (utility storm damage recovery), H.3571 (underground facility damage prevention), H.3447 (homeowners association authority), H.3947 (continuing education requirements for nonresident real estate brokers), and H.3259 (first responder auto insurance premiums).
House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee
February 25, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3872 (Hunting Heritage Protection Act), H.3945 (aerial management of feral hogs & coyotes), and H.3629 (Forestry Commission).
House 3M Municipal and Public Affairs Subcommittee
February 26, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3165 (annexation & impact fees) and H.3215 (building permits).
House Education & Public Works Higher Education Subcommittee
February 26, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive presentations from Coastal Carolina University and the SC Technical College System.
House Regulations Health and Healthcare Industries Subcommittee
February 26, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six regulations from the Department of Public Health on the agenda.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
February 26, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.271 (PSC elections) and H.3497 (liquor liability).
House LCI Business & Commerce Subcommittee
February 26, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3752 (Social Work Interstate Compact) and H.3162 (commission of hearing aid specialists).
House Regulations Business and Industry Subcommittee
February 27, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are 11 regulations on the agenda.
House Education & Public Works Higher Education Subcommittee
February 27, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive presentations from South Carolina State University and the SC Student Loan Corporation.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
February 27, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive a presentation from the SC Tuition Grants Commission.
House Ethics Committee
February 27, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: The committee has an executive session scheduled and will hear fine appeals.
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
