Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Overtime Recap
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Copper Dome Chronicle, sponsored by Advocatus. We strive for substantive writing with brevity, inspired by the book Smart Brevity.
This week’s edition is 532 words or a 2 minute read. The 2025 regular session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly adjourned sine die on Thursday, May 8. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
FY 2025-2026 Agency Budget Requests
Overtime Week 2 Review
The budget conference committee report, H.4025 (FY26 General Appropriations Act), was adopted by both chambers on Wednesday, May 28. Governor McMaster has until Tuesday, June 3 to issue any budget vetoes. However, unless a veto is mission-critical, the General Assembly is not expected to return for a veto session.
The final total budget figures are:
$39.1B total funds (decrease of $1.1B from FY25)
$13.2B State recurring and nonrecurring funds (general funds, including Capital Reserve Fund of $369.7M) (increase of $800M from FY25)
$13.4B Other recurring and nonrecurring funds (other state funds such as lottery revenues) (decrease of $800M from FY25)
$12.4B Federal funds (formula and grant funds) (decrease of $1.2B from FY25)
Additionally, the Senate overrode the veto of the Governor on S.136 (dismissal of pending firearms charges) but the House did not consider the veto. Two other bills that were vetoed, H.3969 (robot delivery devices) and S.623 (Georgetown County building requirements exemption), were not considered by either chamber. The three vetoes are eligible for consideration during the next statewide session, which is likely January 13, 2026.
The main debate point during the budget floor deliberations was regarding an increase in the in-district compensation expense for legislators from $1,000/month to $2,500 month. The last time in-district compensation was increased was the FY1995 budget. In that budget the amount was $300/month from July 1 - December 31, 1994, but beginning January 1, 1995 it increased to $1,000/month. This was timed to the 1994 General Election, so any House member was not guaranteed to see this increase because the entire SC House faced re-election. In 1994 Republicans took control of the SC House for the first time since Reconstruction.
The following current legislators were in the General Assembly when the FY1995 budget was enacted, the last time in-district expense was increased:
Senate President Thomas Alexander (then Representative Alexander)
Senator Harvey Peeler
Senator Luke Rankin
Senator Darrell Jackson
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (served on the conference committee for H.4820 in 1994)
Representative Jerry Govan
Committee Schedule
If a livestream link is not provided with a committee meeting that means livestream is not available. Additional meetings may be added during the week and while 24 hours notice is generally given, it is not always possible to provide such notice.
Joint Meetings
Joint Bond Review Committee
June 3; 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: JBRC will meet for the third time this year. The next JBRC meeting is August 19.
Senate Meetings
None.
House Meetings
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
June 5, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will discuss the study of the South Carolina Conservation Bank.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
June 11, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will discuss the study of the South Carolina Conservation Bank.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
June 18, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its fifth meeting on the study of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
June 25, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its sixth meeting on the study of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Key Dates
January 14, 2025: Session Convenes
January 16, 2025: Judicial Merit Selection Commission final report published
January 29, 2025: State of the State
February 5, 2025: Judicial elections
February 13, 2025: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) February revenue estimate
March 10-14, 2025: House floor budget deliberations
March 17-21, 2025: House Furlough Week (committee meetings only)
April 10, 2025: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) April revenue estimate
April 14-18, 2025: House Furlough Week
April 21-24, 2025: Senate floor budget deliberations
May 8, 2025: Session Adjourns
July 1, 2025: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 begins
