Research

  • SCPC, partners host school board leader training in Columbia

    Over the weekend, dozens of education leaders – including school board members, candidates and parents – joined the S.C. Policy Council (SCPC) in Columbia for a community event focused on student achievement, effective governance and the positive changes coming to K-12 education. 
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    June 24, 2024

  • Transparency check-in: Streaming at the Statehouse (2024)

    Since 2022, the South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC) has annually tracked the livestreaming rates of state legislative committee meetings in an effort to encourage transparency. In this short time, we have seen a positive shift in consistency among several committees, some of which finished this year with perfect records.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    June 15, 2024

  • Analysis: SC’s contentious healthcare restructuring bill

    If you have seen our weekly updates, read the local paper, or spent time on social media, you have probably heard about a contentious bill that would consolidate numerous health departments under a single executive agency. The measure (S.915) is the second phase of a two-part restructuring effort that began...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    May 31, 2024

  • What to know about SC's looming special session

    Longtime observers of our state Legislature know that special sessions are common in South Carolina. Typically, they involve finalizing the state budget and pushing conference bills across the finish line. However, after the surprise defeat of a contentious healthcare restructuring measure and with state leaders pushing for its revival, legislative...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    May 31, 2024

  • SCPC, partners win Heritage Innovation Prize for joint education project

    A project led by the S.C. Policy Council and partner think tanks that serves student-focused school board members received a prestigious honor this week. Our initiative – the Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN) – was awarded the Heritage Foundation Innovation Prize on Monday before a packed house of conservative leaders in...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    May 22, 2024

  • 2024 session review: Making headway on much-needed reforms

    As we close out the second half of the 2023-24 regular session, South Carolina is pressing forward with changes to advance liberty, provide tax relief, and increase government transparency, among other improvements. Several of these measures are now signed into law, while others are just shy of the finish line.  ...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    May 18, 2024

  • SCPC, SCPIF respond to Commerce’s spin on Scout ethics complaint

    MEDIA RELEASE May 16, 2024 The following is a joint statement issued by the South Carolina Policy Council and South Carolina Public Interest Foundation in response to a recent opinion column submitted by S.C. Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey to at least two news outlets in the state:
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    May 16, 2024

  • Statehouse Update May 7-9

    Update 5/10/24: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. This marks the final week South Carolina’s regular legislative session. With the exception of matters allowed by this year’s sine die resolution, such as the budget or legislation sent to conference committee, bills that...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    May 08, 2024

  • Getting the most tax relief out of the FY25 budget

    Update 6/21/24: After weeks of negotiations between House and Senate leaders, a budget conference committee on Friday advanced a compromise FY25 state appropriations bill that will accelerate this year's income tax reduction, taking the top rate from 6.4% to 6.2%. However, the House proposal to provide one-time property tax credits,...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    May 07, 2024

  • Statehouse Update Apr 30-May 2

    Update 5/2/24: Several adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. It is the second to last week of South Carolina’s regular legislative session. The big topic ahead is judicial reform, as a bill offering numerous improvements to our state’s judicial selection process is in...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 30, 2024