Research

Regulatory review bill awaits conference committee

Last year, the House unanimously passed the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, or H.3021, with the goal of reducing the burden of overregulation in South Carolina. As the bill stands now, this still is the intent, but some state agencies and business sectors are concerned about unintended consequences.

Written by Brendan Connors
May 22, 2026

Conference committee has the potential to save taxpayers $137 million

We now have finalized budget drafts from both the House and Senate. The two chambers will next appoint members to a conference committee to reconcile the differences between their proposals.

Written by Sam Aaron
May 11, 2026

Statehouse Update May 12-14

Update 5/14/26: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred throughout the week. With one week of the legislative session left, both chambers are making a final push to pass last-minute legislation on taxes, education, and legal reform. The state budget and a bill overhauling the Department...

Written by Brendan Connors
May 11, 2026

State regulatory system faces overhaul?

Update 5/6/26: H.3021 has passed second reading on the Senate floor. Upon third reading the House will consider the Senate amendments. Update 5/7/26: H.4337, which grants subpoena power to the Legislative Audit Council, has passed second reading on the Senate floor. Upon third reading the House will consider the Senate...

Written by Brendan Connors
May 06, 2026

Statehouse Update May 5-7

Update 5/6/26: Adjustments have been made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred throughout the week. The end of the 2025-26 regular legislative session is quickly approaching. Last week, the House passed a major bill reforming the Department of Transportation that the Senate assigned to conference committee. This week, the...

Written by Brendan Connors
May 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...

Written by Brendan Connors
April 30, 2026

Statehouse Update April 28-30

Update 4/29/26: Adjustments have been made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred throughout the week. The Senate passed an amended state budget last week, sending the bill back to the House for consideration. With the end of the 2025-26 regular session quickly approaching, both chambers are meeting in committees...

Written by Brendan Connors
April 27, 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...

Written by Neil Wolin
April 27, 2026

Under the Responsible Budget, But Not Done

The good news first: South Carolina’s recurring General Funds budget is under the South Carolina Responsible Budget benchmark this year. Using the latest figures, a $13.25 billion FY26 base increased by 1.79 percent population growth plus 2.62 percent inflation allows for a FY27 budget of about $13.83 billion. The proposed...

Written by Vance Ginn, Ph.D.
April 24, 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...

Written by Sam Aaron and Brendan Connors
April 21, 2026