One Voice Newsletter

Legislative Recap – Week 4

It was a busy week in Columbia as the General Assembly concluded week four of the legislative session. After weeks of debate, the Senate passed legislation to strengthen South Carolina’s DUI laws, while the House spent much of Wednesday debating a bill related to abortion medication.

Small Business Tax Relief Continues to Advance

On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the “State of South Carolina Small Business Tax Cut of 2026” (H.5006) that would exempt the first $10,000 of a small business’s personal property (BPP) from county taxation, ease compliance burdens, and eliminate the tax altogether for small businesses with less than $10,000 in BPP. The bill is expected to be taken up by the full House next week.

Bill to Rein in Deceptive Lawyer Advertising Advances

On Thursday, a Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry (LCI) Committee subcommittee advanced a bill (S.821) by Senators Sean Bennett (R-Dorchester) and Ross Turner (R-Greenville) that would define and prohibit false, deceptive, or misleading attorney advertising. The bill now heads to the full Senate LCI Committee.

Senate Holds First Hearing on Data Centers

A Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee subcommittee held the first meeting on (S.867), a bill that would establish a statewide framework for the siting, permitting, and regulation of data centers, including new infrastructure, energy, and environmental requirements, and tax incentive provisions such as redevelopment credits for brownfield sites.

Continued DOT Modernization Discussions

A Senate Transportation Committee subcommittee took additional testimony on its Department of Transportation (DOT) Modernization bill (S.831), while a House Ways and Means Committee subcommittee held its first meeting on the House’s version of the legislation (H.5071).

Both bills seek to streamline the delivery of infrastructure projects across South Carolina by shifting certain federal environmental review duties to the DOT, modernizing its procurement process, giving more authority to the DOT and its Secretary, establishing a Coordinating Council for Transportation & Mobility, among other provisions. The bills would also increase transportation funding by allowing tolling and by increasing the EV fee.

Both the House and Senate are expected to hold additional meetings on both bills.

Other Notable Actions

• Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (H. 3021) – A Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee took additional testimony on a bill that seeks to reduce regulatory burdens on job creators by requiring agencies to eliminate two regulations for every new one proposed, ending judicial deference to state agencies in legal disputes, establishing a regulatory “shot clock,” and implementing other reforms.
• Maximum Unemployment Benefits (3477) – The House Ways and Means Committee advanced a bill that would link the duration of unemployment benefits to the statewide unemployment rate, encouraging faster re-employment during periods of low unemployment while helping address workforce shortages and reducing unemployment insurance taxes. The bill now heads to the House floor.
• Pharmacy Reimbursement Mandates (342) – On Thursday, a Senate Banking & Insurance Committee subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would set minimum reimbursement rates for how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) pay pharmacies and pharmacists for dispensing prescription drugs or performing pharmacy services. The bill was carried over.
• Magistrates’ Reform Act (H.3530) – The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill that would change how magistrates are selected and their qualifications, including requiring magistrates elected after July 1, 2025 to have a juris doctorate (JD) and to be a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar. The bill also expands magistrates’ civil jurisdiction to cases not exceeding $25,000. The bill now heads to the House floor.

New Bills Introduced

Several notable bills were introduced this week, including:

• Industrial Retail Choice (878) – This bill by Sen. Michael Johnson (R – York) and others would create a framework allowing certain large electricity customers to procure power from third-party suppliers, subject to transmission, cost-allocation, and regulatory requirements. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• Broadband Equipment Sales Tax Exemption (5122) – This bill by Rep. Brandon Newton (R–Lancaster) and others would create a sales tax exemption for certain equipment, supplies, and machinery sold to internet access service providers and communications service providers for use in producing or distributing internet and communications services. The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Next Week

Week five is expected to be another busy one at the State House, with both the House and Senate set to consider separate bills aimed at providing individual and small business tax relief. Several notable meetings already scheduled include:

• Thursday – Senate Transportation Committee subcommittee on DOT Modernization (831).
• Thursday – Senate LCI Committee subcommittee on DEW UI Tax Code Changes (688).