Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 8
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 March 4-6, 2025, is 1,306 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 8 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 12 bills and two concurrent resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Some bills that will generate debate include:
H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act)
H.3756 (utility storm damage recovery)
H.3406 (online technological exploitation)
H.3127 (felony failure to stop)
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 16 bills (nine are contested) and 14 joint resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. S.244 (tort reform plus dram shop) has been set for Special Order and its debate will likely consume most of the floor time. Some other uncontested bills that will generate debate include:
S.143 (orders of protection)
S.180 (orders of protection)
S.79 (school district noncertified teachers)
Week 7 Review
House floor sessions consumed 8 hours, 11 minutes. The House passed 12 bills and one joint resolution as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Priority legislation that passed the House last week included:
S.62 (K-12 scholarships)
Senate floor sessions consumed 5 hours, 19 minutes. The Senate passed nine bills and three joint resolutions, as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
S.51 (V.C. Summer joint resolution)
S.125 (nonprofit housing corporation property tax exemption)
H.3523 (organized retail crime)
S.2 (behavioral healthcare agency restructuring)
H.3523 (organized retail crime) became the first piece of priority legislation to be enrolled for ratification after the House concurred in the Senate amendments.
Committee Schedule Week 8
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 (8 budget hearings)
Health & Human Services, March 5 at 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Higher Education, March 5 at 10am; Agenda
K-12 Education, March 5 at 10am; Agenda (not posted as of March 2)
Natural Resources & Economic Development, March 5 at 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Higher Education, March 6 at 10am; Agenda
K-12 Education, March 6 at 10am; Agenda
Natural Resources & Economic Development, March 6 at 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional, March 6 immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate LCI Labor & Commerce Subcommittee
March 4, 10:30am; Agenda
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.190 (redevelopment projects), H.3933 (nonprofit conversion to a public service district), and S.150 (Rental Kart Age Act).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
March 4, 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 Education Subcommittee
March 5, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.135 (Pledge of Allegiance) and H.3862 (charter school enrollment preferences).
Senate Education Subcommittee
March 5, 9:30am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3196 (Educator Assistance Act).
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
March 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.337 (blue catfish) and S.345 (baiting areas & bobwhite quail), as well as four appointments to the DNR Board.
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
March 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3309 (Energy Security Act).
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
March 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.54 (medical informed consent) and S.146 (long-term care facilities visitation).
Senate LCI Special Subcommittee
March 5, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.227 (local government concurrency programs).
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Subcommittee
March 5, 11am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.367 (abandoned vessels)
Senate Transportation Committee
March 5, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will receive a presentation from Secretary Justin Powell, South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
March 5, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.8 (vehicular pursuit), S.114 (telecommunication location information), and S.270 (attempted murder).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
March 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.336 (establish judicial election date) and H.3529 (family court judges).
Senate LCI Special Subcommittee
March 6, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.274 (unemployment benefits) and S.279 (DEW Executive Director).
Senate Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
March 6, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive a presentation from the South Carolina Department on Aging.
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
March 6, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.287 (electronic nicotine delivery systems), S.161 (non-opioid medications), S.221 (Kratom Consumer Protection Act), S.236 (anesthesiologist assistants), and S.170 (mandate surgical smoke evacuation systems). Additionally there are two appointments to the State Board of Pharmacy.
House Meetings
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
March 4, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3457 (Human Life Protection Act). This is a bill to prohibit abortion upon conception with an exception for medical emergencies.
House 3M-House LCI Pharmacy Benefit Manager Ad Hoc Committee
March 4, 9am; Agenda
Summary: This is the first meeting of this joint ad hoc committee on the issue of pharmacy benefit manager public policy.
House Judiciary DRBP Subcommittee
March 4, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3731 (special purpose districts).
House Judiciary Committee
March 4, 60 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are nine bills on the agenda: H.3045 (child sexual abuse), H.3387 (unlawful occupants of property), H.3460 (electronic records disclosure), S.74 (electronic records disclosure), H.3497 (liquor liability), H.3556 (political party nominating contests), H.3557 (candidate filing), H.3306 (Court of Appeals), and H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act).
House 3M Committee
March 4, 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 Education & Public Works Committee
March 4, 90 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3927 (prohibit DEI activities). This bill prohibits state agencies, institutions of higher education, and school districts from engaging in specific activities or employing dedicated staff related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Additionally, the covered government entities are not permitted to contract with private sector companies or nonprofits that engage in prohibited DEI activities.
House Education & Public Works Higher Education Subcommittee
March 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive presentations from Clemson University and the College of Charleston.
House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
March 5, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: H.3524 (victim services training), H.3525 (victim services and compensation), H.3591 (fentanyl induced homicide, H.3624 (tree limb encroachment), and H.3924 (hemp-derived ingestible).
House LCI Business & Commerce Subcommittee
March 5, 9am; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3946 (agriculture buildings) and H.3658 (Department of Consumer Affairs).
House Economic Development and Utility Modernization Ad Hoc Committee
March 6, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: The committee will receive presentations from the Department of Commerce and the Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.
Joint Meetings
Agency Salary Head Commission
March 4, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There are four agency requests on the agenda.
Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children
March 5, 9am; Agenda (not posted as of March 2); Livestream
Summary: As of March 2 an agenda has not been posted.
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
