Statehouse Update March 10-13

Neil Wolin

Written by
March 10, 2025

Statehouse Update March 10-13

Update 3/13/25: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week.

The House kicked off the budget debate Monday, a process expected to stretch well into next week. Meanwhile, the Senate left tort reform discussions in limbo. Last Thursday, before adjourning, an amendment was introduced that would gut the bill’s most impactful provision, leaving its future uncertain. It’s unclear whether the Senate will pick up where it left off or shift focus to the House’s liquor liability proposal (H.3497) which ultimately still needs to go through Senate committee before it hits the floor.

It remains to be seen whether the House bill or Senate proposal will be the vehicle for liquor liability reform. SCPC will be closely monitoring both issues and more. Follow us on X for real-time updates.

Budget 
  • General Appropriations Bill H.4025 – This bill allocates the budget for next year totaling over $14.1 billion. The bill includes a proposal for more than $800 million directed to property tax relief and over 200 million directed at income tax cuts. House floor debate is underway. Update: This bill has passed the House and moves to The Senate for consideration.
  • Capital Reserve Fund H.4026 – House floor debate commences after second reading of H.4025. Update: This bill has passed the House and moves to The Senate for consideration.

  • To get the full breakdown of the 2026 budget click here.

Legal Reform
  • Tort Reform S.244 – Provides that a jury determine the percentage of fault of the claimant and of any nonparty, using those percentages as a basis for damages, along with other insurance regulatory reforms. For a full SCPC analysis of S.244, click here. Debate is expected to resume on the Senate floor. Update: This bill was carried over by the Senate majority leader. 
  • Liability Regulation S.184 – Allows for a licensee that sells, serves, or otherwise furnishes alcohol (bar or restaurant owners) to be held civilly liable to a third party for damages arising out of the sale or furnishing of alcohol. This bill addresses "Dram Shop" laws, which place liability on a business based on their duty to train employees in identifying intoxication and denying those under 21. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
  • S.C. DOGE S.318 – Creates a commission that sends spending cut recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
Gov. Structure
  • Governor Appoints State Auditor H.3430 – This bill will be heard by a Senate Finance Constitutional subcommittee on Tuesday, March 11 at 2pm or at the call of the chair. Update: This bill has been advanced to the full Senate finance committee as amended.
  • Elimination of the Comptroller General S.35 – This bill proposes a constitutional amendment eliminating the position of Comptroller General. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
  • Governor Appoints Dir. of Dept. of Employment and Workforce S.279 – Allows governor to Appoint Director by advice and consent of the Senate, whereas current law requires the governor to consider only nominations by the State Department of Employment and Workforce Review Committee. The Senate LCI committee hears this bill at 9am on Thursday, March 13.
  • Governor Appoints PSC Board Members H.3933 – Sets PSC board membership to 7 members, appointed by the governor based on recommendation of the relevant legislative delegation. Whereas the current law sets the board to make recommendations to the legislative delegation, who then makes the appointment instead of the governor. The Senate LCI committee hears this bill at 9am on Thursday, March 13. Update: This bill has been advanced to the Seante floor.
Taxes
  • No Tax on Tips S.234 – Excludes tips from computation of S.C. gross income. This bill will be heard by the Senate Finance sales & income subcommittee on Tuesday, March 11 at 3pm.
Energy
  • Joint Resolution, Santee Cooper S.12 - “to authorize the Public Service Authority to jointly own, as tenants-in-common or through a limited liability company, with investor-owned utilities, electrical generation and transmission facilities.” Gives the Public Service Authority power to jointly own investor-owned electric utilities, electrical generation and transmission facilities, the power to plan, finance, acquire, own, operate, and maintain those plants. This resolution is on the Senate floor for debate.
Finance
  • Cryptocurrency S.163 – Prohibits use of federal central digital bank currencies by state and local governments and regulates digital asset mining. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
Budget Hearings

Senate Finance Constitutional Subcommittee

  • Tuesday, March 11 at 2pm or call of the chair hearing from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority and AlixPartners.
  • Thursday, March 13 upon Senate adjournment hearing from the Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Comptroller General, Municipal Association of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Association of Counties.

Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee

  • Wednesday, March 12 at 9:30am hearing from the University of South Carolina system and Francis Marion University.
  • Thursday, March 13 at 10am hearing from the Commission on Higher Education and Clemson University.

Senate Finance Natural Resources & Economic Development Subcommittee

  • Wednesday, March 12 at 10am hearing from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, State Ports Authority, Sea Grant Consortium, and the Jobs & Economic Development Authority.

Senate Finance Transportation & Regulatory Subcommittee

  • Wednesday, March 12 at 12pm hearing from the Dept. of Transportation and the Dept. of Employment and Workforce.