Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Overtime Week 1
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Copper Dome Chronicle, sponsored by Advocatus USA. We strive for substantive writing with brevity, inspired by the book Smart Brevity.
This week’s edition, covering May 18-22 is 700 words or a 3 minute read. The second regular session of the 126th General Assembly adjourned May 14, but a special session began on May 15. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
FY 2026-2027 Agency Budget Requests
2026 Candidate Tracking Portal
Overtime Week 1 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Monday (11am), Tuesday (TBD), and possibly Wednesday (TBD). The House has four bills eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week:
H.5683 (new congressional districts map)
H.4042 (ivermectin over-the-counter sales) - Senate Amendments
H.5538 (Guarantee Banking Act) - - Senate Amendments
S.922 (governor appointments) - - Senate Amendments
The House will spend as many hours as is necessary debating H.5683 (new congressional districts map) until the bill is passed. It’s unclear if the House will consider any of the other three bills or conference reports this week.
The Senate will meet in perfunctory session on the day that H.5683 receives third reading in the House, at which point the bill will be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is anticipated this will be Tuesday. The Senate will continue to meet in perfunctory session until Senate President Thomas Alexander calls the Senate into statewide session.
There are 12 bills in the status of a conference committee:
H.5126 (FY27 Budget)
H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products)
S.52 (DUI)
S.11 (state employee paid parental leave)
H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act)
H.4763 (Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction “HALO” Act)
H.3387 (unlawful occupants of property)
H.4069 (patient billing)
H.4248 (shrimp country of origin labeling)
H.4337 (LAC powers & private organizations)
H.3570 (economic interests disclosures)
H.4635 (gym contract renewals)
The House has appointed conferees to S.883 (2026 sine die resolution) but the Senate has not nor is it expected to appoint conferees.
H.4709 (Buy American Iron and Steel Act) is in an odd posture because the House nonconcurred in the Senate amendments but session ended on May 14 before the Senate could take any action. It’s unclear if the bill will remain in play or if it has died.
H.5573 (Spartanburg County Memorial Auditorium Commission) is local legislation regarding the commission’s composition. It passed the House on May 13 with amendments after the Senate passed it with amendments on May 7. It was referred to the Spartanburg County Senate Legislative Delegation; it remains to be seen if it will be passed.
Week 18 Review
For the second time this decade, the General Assembly failed to adopt a sine die resolution - S.883 (2026 sine die resolution). Since 1975, previously only two sessions ended without a sine die resolution: 2003 and 2023. A banner for 2026 can now be hung in the rafters of the state capitol.
Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2026-09 at approximately 5:30pm on May 14 calling the General Assembly back in to special session for the “purposes of promptly adopting a General Appropriations Act and finishing its debate on South Carolina’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 election cycle, both of which are independent, extraordinary circumstances to convene an extra session.”
House floor sessions consumed 20 hours, 22 minutes excluding times when the chamber receded. The House held four floor sessions.
Senate floor sessions consumed 19 hours, 45 minutes excluding times when the chamber receded. The Senate held four floor sessions.
Between May 13 and May 15, 137 pieces of legislation were ratified and presented to Gov. McMaster for his decision right. All ratified legislation will have a decision made by May 21.
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.
Conference Committee Meetings
As of May 17 no conference committee meetings have been scheduled. However, several sources speculate the budget conference committee may meet on Thursday, May 20.
Senate Meetings
As of May 17 no Senate committee meetings have been scheduled. However, the Senate Judiciary Committee may meet this week to consider H.5683 (new congressional districts map) per the motion adopted by the Senate on May 15.
Senate Judiciary Committee
May 20, 2pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The is one bill on the agenda: H.5683 (new congressional districts map). Public testimony will be taken at this meeting.
House Meetings
As of May 17 no House committee meetings have been scheduled and none are expected this week.
House Rules Committee
May 18, 7:15pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will consider H.5709 (redistricting rules resolution).
Joint Meetings
Joint Bond Review Committee
June 9, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The JBRC agenda has not yet been posted.
2026 Key Dates
January 13, 2026: Session Convenes
January 28, 2026: Judicial Merit Selection Commission draft report published
January 28, 2026: State of the State Address
February 12, 2026: BEA revenue forecast update
March 4, 2026: Judicial elections
March 9-13, 2026: House floor budget deliberations
March 16-20: House furlough week
March 16, 2026: Candidate filing opens (all statewide constitutional offices, federal offices, SC House of Representatives)
March 30, 2026: Candidate filing closes
April 9, 2026: BEA revenue forecast update (cancelled)
April 6-10: House furlough week (confirmed)
April 20-24, 2026: Senate floor budget deliberations
May 14, 2026: Session Adjourns
May 19, 2026: BEA revenue forecast update
