Research

Statehouse Update April 29-May 1

The budget, big energy bill, and film industry incentives are on the House floor this week. School choice is on the Senate floor, and many important education bills including schoolboard livestreaming are set to be heard in a House k-12 subcommittee.

Written by Neil Wolin
April 28, 2025

Will lawmakers move on liquor liability reform?

With just six days remaining in the first year of the 2025–26 legislative session, S.C. lawmakers still haven’t reached consensus on civil liability reform. On the House side, in March representatives passed H.3497, a bill aimed at making liquor liability reforms but didn’t propose significant changes in the state’s civil liability...

Written by Sam Aaron
April 25, 2025

Path to Prosperity: A Fiscal Roadmap for South Carolina

Key Takeaways South Carolina’s complex and inefficient tax system ranks 33rd in tax competitiveness nationally due to irresponsible spending. These fiscal burdens include a complex, inefficient tax system that penalizes work, investment, and entrepreneurship. H.4216 would provide a much-needed income tax rate reduction, but is unfortunately designed in a way...

Written by Vance Ginn, Ph.D.
April 22, 2025

Statehouse Update April 22-24

The House ways and means committee is hearing testimony on Tuesday from our Senior Economic Fellow, Vance Ginn, Ph.D. and Manish Bhatt, Senior Policy Analyst with the Center for State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation(Livestream can be viewed here). Keep an eye out for our upcoming report from Dr....

Written by Neil Wolin
April 21, 2025

No pork in this year's budget?

The State Senate has proposed their $14.4 billion general funds budget from the Senate finance committee without earmarks, setting the stage for the House to consider omitting earmarks in their second budget draft.

Written by Neil Wolin
April 18, 2025

Legislative victory: Senate and House reach agreement on school choice bill

Update: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. Corrections have been made to ensure factual accuracy. On Wednesday, the Senate announced that after continued negotiations between the House and Senate Education committees, they have reached a compromise on the proposal. The Senate...

Written by Sam Aaron
April 17, 2025

Statehouse Update April 15-17

Update 4/16/25: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. The legislative schedule at the Statehouse is relatively light this week. The House is on furlough, and the full Senate is scheduled to meet just one day, likely to take up the budget. SCPC will provide...

Written by Neil Wolin
April 14, 2025

Statehouse Update April 8-10

Update 4/09/25: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. This week at the Statehouse is relatively quiet in terms of full legislative activity. The House will convene on Tuesday. On the other hand, the full Senate is out this week, with the Senate finance...

Written by Neil Wolin
April 07, 2025

Energy ‘reform’ bills potential shock to ratepayers’ wallets

Update: 4/4/2025: On Thursday the Senate approved H.3309 with several amendments. This analysis reflects the bill in its original form before proposed Senate amendments. The amendments adopted by the senate would: Remove the consideration of economic impact and public interest from Public Service Commission responsibilities, resulting in the PSC adhering...

Written by Neil Wolin
April 01, 2025

Statehouse Update March 25-27

Update 3/27/25: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. Lawmakers are moving quickly as the budget process is in full swing at the Statehouse. SCPC has long supported a substantial reduction in income taxes, and today, House and Senate leadership are expected to join the...

Written by Neil Wolin
March 25, 2025