Copper Dome Chronicle: September 2025 Meetings and Activities
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 post will preview the month of September 2025. Any meetings or relevant activities by the General Assembly will be chronicled on this page, which will be updated as needed.
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
State Legislator Resignations
In August, four state legislators announced their resignations. All special elections will be held in time for their replacements to be seated for the 2026 regular session.
State Senator Roger Nutt resigned due to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Sen. Nutt served on Spartanburg County Council and the South Carolina House of Representatives before winning his Senate election in 2024.
State Representative Bobby Cox resigned due to increasing work responsibilities. Cox had announced his candidacy for Senate District 12 held by Senator Roger Nutt and had earned his endorsement.
State Representative Chris Murphy resigned his seat to spend more time with family and his work outside of public service. Murphy has battled health challenges in recent years as well.
Disgraced State Representative RJ May resigned his seat on August 11, weeks after being arrested and charged with distributing and possessing CSAM.
2026 Governor’s Race
Candidates wanting to succeed Governor Henry McMaster - South Carolina’s longest-serving elected governor in state history - have begun making their intentions know. Below is a list of those who have officially announced and those who have stated they are considering a run.
Republicans
Attorney General Alan Wilson (officially announced)
State Senator Josh Kimbrell (officially announced)
Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (officially announced)
Congressman Ralph Norman (officially announced)
Congresswoman Nancy Mace (officially announced)
State Senator Sean Bennett
Democrats
State Representative Jermaine Johnson (officially announced)
Mullins McLeod (officially announced)
2026 Constitutional Officers
In addition to the Governor/Lt. Governor ticket, the other six constitutional offices will be on the ballot in 2026. Below is a list of those who have officially announced and those who have stated they are considering a run.
Attorney General
State Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R) (officially announced)
8th Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo (R) (fundraising but not officially a candidate)
1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe (R) (officially announced)
Secretary of State
Secretary of State Mark Hammond (R) - Incumbent
State Treasurer
State Treasurer Curtis Loftis (R) (officially announced) - Incumbent
Comptroller General
Mike Burkhold (R) (officially announced)
State Superintendent of Education
State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver (R) (officially announced) - Incumbent
Commissioner of Agriculture
Fred West (R) (officially announced)
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
Prostate Cancer Study Committee
September 9, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The study committee will holds its fourth meeting, receiving presentations from invited presenters. No public comment/testimony will be taken.
Joint Committee to Study Childcare
October 1, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The study committee will receive a presentation from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
Senate Meetings
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
September 10, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.44 (physician assistants), S.45 (advanced practice registered nurses), S.376 (international physician licensing), S.378 (pharmacists), and S.669 (Team Based Health Care Act). The committee will receive presentations from invited presenters. No public comment/testimony will be taken. This has been dubbed the “Scope of Practice WrestleMania” because three of the bills would expand the scope of practice for PAs, APRNs, and pharmacists.
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
September 11, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: S.160 (Dietician Licensure Compact Act), S.453 (teledentistry), H.3223 (veterinarian telehealth), H.3254 (permanent medical licenses), H.3842 (handicapped parking placards), and H.4342 (restricted dentistry instructor license). The committee will receive presentations from invited presenters. No public comment/testimony will be taken.
Senate Transportation Committee
September 24, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: As of September 11 no agenda has been posted.
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
October 1, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.323 (Unborn Child Protection Act). Public comment will be taken beginning at 9:30am and presentations from invited presenters will begin at 1pm.
House Meetings
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
September 3, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its second meeting of the study on the South Carolina Department of Education.
House Ethics Committee
September 9, 2:30pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will consider one complaint.
House SCDOT Modernization Ad Hoc Committee
September 10, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will hold its third meeting and receive a presentation from the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
House Education & Public Works Higher Education Subcommittee
September 16, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold a hearing on college campus safety and receive presentations from SLED, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, and the Department of Public Safety.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
September 17, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its eighth meeting on the study of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
September 23, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its third meeting on the study of the Department of Insurance.
House SCDOT Modernization Ad Hoc Committee
September 23, 4pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will hold its fourth meeting and receive a presentation from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
House Insurance Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee
September 29, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will hear presentations from consumer advocates.
House Operations and Management Committee
September 30, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will discuss security enhancements to the Blatt Building for the 2026 regular session.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
September 25, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its second meeting on study of the South Carolina Conservation Bank.
2025 Key Dates
July 19-23, 2025: Southern Legislative Conference (Birmingham, Alabama)
July 25-26, 2025: National Governors Association Summer Meeting (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
August 4-6, 2025: NCSL Legislative Summit (Boston, Massachusetts)
September 25, 2025: BEA meeting on FY25 closeout and FY26 first update.
September 26, 2025: Agency budget requests submitted (projected).
November 18, 2025: BEA forecast for FY27 Executive Budget.
2026 Key Dates
January 13, 2026: Session Convenes
January 2026: Judicial Merit Selection Commission final report published (TBD)
January 2026: State of the State
March 9-13, 2026: House floor budget deliberations (projected)
March 16, 2026: Candidate filing opens (All statewide constitutional offices, federal offices, SC House of Representatives)
March 30, 2026: Candidate filing closes
April 20-24, 2026: Senate floor budget deliberations (projected)
May 14, 2026: Session Adjourns
