Latest Updates

Statehouse Update April 18-20

Update 4/21/23: Several adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. The Senate this week will debate and vote on its version of the state budget, while the House has a busy schedule after being out last week. In our latest report, we examined the...

Written by Sam Aaron
April 18, 2023

FY24 budget proposals: SC needs (and can afford) a bigger tax cut

By Bryce Fiedler and Vance Ginn, Ph.D. In January, the South Carolina Policy Council published The 2024 SC Sustainable Budget (SCSB) – an ambitious new project with the goal of keeping state government spending under control. Specifically, it urges legislators to keep annual recurring general funds appropriations from rising faster than state population growth...

Written by Bryce Fiedler
April 15, 2023

Statehouse Update April 4-6

The House is out this week, while the Senate has a packed calendar of bills in committee and on the floor. Bills dealing with legal reform, education and regulation (some good, some not-so-good) are making progress, and several are nearing the finish line. Learn more about our policy positions on...

Written by Sam Aaron
April 11, 2023

Six steps to improve SC’s judicial system

South Carolina’s judicial selection process is unusual and rife with issues that must quickly be addressed. Not only are higher-level state judges elected by the Legislature (a method used in just two states), but candidates for these seats must also be screened and nominated by a small legislatively controlled board....

Written by Bryce Fiedler
April 11, 2023

Statehouse Update Apr 11-13

Update 4/14/23: Several adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. The House is out this week, while the Senate has a packed calendar of bills in committee and on the floor. Bills dealing with legal reform, education and regulation (some good, some not-so-good) are...

Written by Sam Aaron
April 11, 2023

McMaster signs bipartisan bill to expedite road work

On Monday, Gov. Henry McMaster signed into law a unanimously passed bill (S.361) that will speed up road improvement projects in South Carolina. The bill simplifies how construction contracts that are awarded by S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) can be extended to include more work.

Written by Sam Aaron
April 05, 2023

South Carolina should remove its cap on title insurance commission

South Carolina unnecessarily regulates the relationship between title insurance agencies and their underwriters. A recently filed state House bill would embrace the free-market system and allow the two parties to negotiate commission payments on their own terms. Title insurance is a way to protect yourself from financial loss and related legal expenses...

Written by Bryce Fiedler
March 10, 2023

Issue update: How South Carolina can tackle ESG

The ESG movement threatens to impact taxpayers across the nation. How should SC respond?

Written by Sam Aaron
March 09, 2023

Full expensing: an easy tax win for South Carolina

Full expensing is a tax policy that will put South Carolina at the front of the line for new capital investments as American businesses reshore their supply chains. Full expensing creates better economic growth, higher wages, and a better standard of living for South Carolinians. Pro-growth tax treatment of new investments will bolster...

Written by Bryce Fiedler
March 03, 2023

Two bills would reduce unfairness in SC’s civil liability system

A pair of House and Senate bills filed in February would move South Carolina’s civil liability laws in the right direction and a foster a legal environment that is fairer to businesses and more conducive to economic growth. The bills (S.533 and H.3933) would require juries or judges to consider nonparties in...

Written by Bryce Fiedler
March 02, 2023