Legislative agenda

2026 Session Recap: Major progress on SCPC backed reforms

The regular 2026 legislative session came to a close on May 14th and conference committees for outstanding pieces of legislation including the state budget still need to get over the finish line.   Massive reform packages for the state income tax and the Department of Transportation have been signed by the governor, with many crucial priorities making their...

Neil Wolin

Written by
June 04, 2026

  • 2026 Session Recap: Major progress on SCPC backed reforms

    The regular 2026 legislative session came to a close on May 14th and conference committees for outstanding pieces of legislation including the state budget still need to get over the finish line.   Massive reform packages for the state income tax and the Department of Transportation have been signed by the governor, with many crucial priorities making their...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    June 04, 2026

  • House acts on Policy Council’s SCDOT recommendations

    Update: Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law on 5/18/26. The bill passed conference committee with a provision requiring CTCs to spend a portion of their funds on state highways. This summary has been updated to reflect the most current information. Earlier this week, the House passed a bill...
    Brendan Connors

    Written by
    April 30, 2026

  • S.C. Senate waters down data center reform

    Correction: A previous version of this report incorrectly stated that sales tax revenue lost due to data center exemptions totaled $828 million, as referenced on the Senate floor. We have since been made aware that the correct total is $828,288. The report has been updated accordingly. Update 4/28/26: S.867 Data...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    April 27, 2026

  • Reforms for Results: Solutions for S.C.’s Transportation Challenges

    Update 4/29/26: S.831, a bill previously resembling H.5071, has passed the House in which many of SCPC's recommendations were adopted. Click here for the updated bill report. Executive Summary  South Carolina has consistently increased spending on road repairs and new construction over the past several decades. Yet despite the 2017...
    Sam Aaron and Brendan Connors

    Written by
    April 21, 2026

  • A trio of data center bills filed in the Senate

    Last year, the governor signed energy legislation that expedited energy projects in the state, most notably the Canady’s natural gas plant. Before signage, the House removed requirements that would protect ratepayers from massive energy infrastructure costs driven up by commercial data centers.   In the absence of these protections and heightened concerns about where and how data centers operate in the...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    February 13, 2026

  • Advancing South Carolina: SCPC celebrates policy wins in 2025

    Historic progress was made this year in South Carolina on school choice, tax reform, civil liability reform, and deregulation. Many of the issues in our 2025-26 legislative agenda were successfully advanced.   We also had the honor of polling South Carolinians on issues facing the state, and the chance to have those results covered in the media.  
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    December 13, 2025

  • Data centers in South Carolina: The responsible path forward

    Over the past several years, the United States has entered a new technological era marked by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). AI systems store and process massive amounts of data on servers housed in large facilities known as data centers.   States across the country have adopted policies that...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    October 11, 2025

  • The nuclear solution to S.C.’s energy problem

    With the signage of the S.C. Energy Security Act H.3309, utilities are moving fast to put natural gas plant construction plans into action. While the state relies on nuclear reactors for over half of its energy baseload, the failure of V.C. Summer reactors 2 and 3 has oriented utilities away...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    August 22, 2025

  • 2025 Citizen Leadership Awards announced!

    The South Carolina Policy Council is proud to announce the recipients of our inaugural Citizen Leadership Award. These individuals and their organizations were instrumental in leading the fight against oppressive liquor liability laws that were hampering businesses all over the state. Their efforts culminated in the passage of H.3430 during...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    August 04, 2025

  • SCPC mourns the loss of Shirley W. Roe

    The South Carolina Policy Council is deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Shirley W. Roe, whom we deeply respected and to whom we owe an enduring debt of gratitude.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 29, 2025