Copper Dome Chronicle: 2025 Session Week 17
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, covering May 6-8, 2025 is 1,190 words or a 4.5 minute read. The 126th South Carolina General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 and will adjourn on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
FY 2025-2026 Agency Budget Requests
Week 17 Preview
The finish line is in sight - only three legislative days remain in the 2025 regular session. The current sine die resolution only permits a budget conference report. Sine die resolutions may, and in the past were, amended as negotiations took place between House and Senate leadership.
In order for a bill to be ratified it will need third reading by May 8 at 5pm, otherwise the bill will have to wait until 2026. If a bill has passed one chamber but doesn’t receive second reading by the other chamber by May 7, it will not be ratified this year.
Advocates should expect long floor sessions on Wednesday and Thursday with extended periods of time when a chamber is “standing at ease.” Some House and Senate rules have different applications during the final week of the regular session; take four minutes to read our summary.
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 29 bills (three on the contested calendar) and three concurrent resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are six Senate bills on the House calendar. Some bills that may generate debate include:
H.4025 (FY26 General Appropriations Act) and H.4026 (capital reserve fund)
H.4216 (income taxes)
H.4176 (Class III casino gaming)
H.3876 (accommodations tax & short-term rental property)
H.3858 (watercraft & outboard motor taxes)
S.287 (electronic nicotine delivery systems)
S.77 (livestream school board meetings)
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm10am), and Thursday (11am). The Senate intends to recess on Tuesday to allow committees to meet before returning to session later in the afternoon. The Senate has 63 bills (27 are contested), 14 joint resolutions (two are contested), and five concurrent resolutions (two are contested) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 31 House bills (four bills are contested) and five House concurrent resolutions (two are contested) on the Senate calendar. Some bills that may generate debate include:
S.28 (child abuse via artificial intelligence)
S.29 (morphed images of minors)
S.74 (electronic records disclosure)
S.163 (cryptocurrency)
S.346 (assault & battery)
H.3650 (discharge firearm at a dwelling)
H.3569 (domestic violence victims and rental agreements)
S.171 (waste tires)
Bills in conference committee
Priority legislation still alive
H.3497 (liquor liability)
H.3309 (Energy Security Act)
H.3276 (Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act)
H.3431 (minors and social media) and S.268 (age-appropriate code design)
H.3058 (disclosure of intimate images)
H.3645 (increase state employee paid parental leave)
H.3800 (durable medical equipment)
H.3127 (felony failure to stop)
S.78 (educator credential prior work experience credit)
H.3497 (liquor liability) was amended by the House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee to become a “hybrid” or “liquor liability plus” bill. A full House Judiciary Committee meeting will be scheduled for May 6 to consider this amended bill as well as other legislative vehicles that this proposal could be attached to keep multiple pathways open for some version of liquor liability legislation to become law this year. What was clear from the subcommittee is that comprehensive tort reform legislation is not on the table for this session, which is a large sticking point between the House and Senate Republican leadership. Some advocates believe a deal will be cut; others believe the chances for passage have run dry.
Week 16 Review
House floor sessions consumed 9 hours, 45 minutes. The House passed 46 bills and three joint resolutions, as well as several congratulatory and memorial resolutions.
Senate floor sessions consumed 13 hours, 25 minutes. The Senate passed 17 bills and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions.
Governor Henry McMaster has signed 25 bills and joint resolutions presented to him for his decision right; 14 of them were signed on April 28. Gov. McMaster has not vetoed any legislation so far this session.
Legislation signed by Governor
H.3529 (family court judges)
S.2 (behavioral healthcare agency restructuring)
S.126 (law enforcement & judicial personal privacy protection)
S.218 (veterans’ nursing homes)
S.291 (continuing resolution)
Pending ratification and Governor’s action
S.62 (K-12 scholarships)
S.51 (V.C. Summer joint resolution)
S.103 (Truth in Meat Labeling)
S.136 (dismissal of pending firearms charges)
S.164 (state agency rule making)
S.307 (peer-to-peer car sharing services)
S.345 (baiting areas & bobwhite quail)
S.367 (abandoned vessels)
S.425 (school-based meals)
H.3196 (Educator Assistance Act)
Committee Schedule Week 17
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.
Senate Meetings
Senate Finance Special Subcommittee
May 6, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.344 (Equine Advancement Act).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
May 6, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three appointments to the Workers’ Compensation Committee on the agenda.
Senate FVS Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
May 6, 10:15am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.4296 (military code).
Senate Judiciary Committee
May 6, 12:15pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There six appointments on the agenda: three to the Workers’ Compensation Committee and three to the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper).
Senate FVS Committee
May 7, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will hold a confirmation hearing on Mr. Tony Catone, Governor McMaster’s nominee to be the Director of the Department of Social Services.
Senate Legislative Oversight Committee
May 7, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will consider two subcommittee reports about the Department of Children’s Advocacy and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The committee will receive updates on four other ongoing studies of the Commission on Higher Education, the Office of Resilience, the South Carolina Attorney General, and the Department on Aging.
Senate Education Subcommittee
May 7, 10:30am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.135 (Pledge of Allegiance).
Senate Banking and Insurance Subcommittee
May 7, 10am; Agenda
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.342 (PBMs & pharmacy services).
Senate Transportation Committee
May 7, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one appointment to the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission on the agenda.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
May 8, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four regulations on the agenda.
House Meetings
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
May 6, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will discuss the study of the SC Tuition Grants Commission.
House Insurance Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee
May 6, 60 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will receive a presentation from the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
House LCI Banking and Insurance Subcommittee
May 7, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: H.3934 (health insurance cost sharing), H.4301 (increase vehicle liability insurance limits for DUI offenders), H.4039 (vehicle liability insurance arbitration), H.4049 (vehicle safety glass insurance), and H.4101 (rental vehicle insurance).
House Insurance Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee
May 8, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will receive a presentation from the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
Conference Committee Meetings
H.3813 Conference Committee
May 6, 3pm; Agenda
Summary: A meeting of the conference committee on H.3813 (bear hunting).
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
