Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Overtime Week 11
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 July 27-31, is 1,117 words or a 4.5 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 11 Preview
As of July 25, no floor sessions have been announced to consider the budget conference report. There is some speculation floor sessions may be held on July 29 in the afternoon. On July 28 the House announced a floor session at 12pm on Tuesday, August 11. The Senate will meet in perfunctory session on July 29 under the unanimous consent agreement made on June 25 to consider magistrates and resolutions expressing congratulatory messages or sympathy.
Memorial services for the late Senator Lindsey Graham will be held on July 28 (Washington, DC) and July 29 (Columbia in the mid-morning; private services in Pickens County later that day).
Ron Fleming, who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives 1995 and 2002, passed away on July 23 and his memorial service will be held on July 25.
Chris Murphy, who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives between 2011 and 2025, passed away on July 22 and his memorial service will be held on July 27.
The three bills in the status of a conference committee:
H.5126 (FY27 Budget)
H.4337 (LAC powers & private organizations)
H.3570 (economic interests disclosures)
The conference reports for H.5126 and H.4377 have not been considered by either chamber. The conference committee on H.3570 hasn’t met.
Overtime Week 10 Review
Neither the House nor the Senate held any floor sessions. The budget conference committee met on July 21and July 22, reaching an agreement on the budget around 8pm on July 22.
There are nine bills in the status of a conference committee or had some action taken during the floor sessions held on June 25:
H.5126 (FY27 Budget) - Pending. The conference committee adopted a report on July 22 and is awaiting action by both chambers.
H.4337 (LAC powers & private organizations) - Pending. The conference committee adopted a report on June 16 and is awaiting action by both chambers.
H.3570 (economic interests disclosures) - Zombie (neither alive nor dead). The conference committee hasn’t met on the bill.
H.4763 (Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction “HALO” Act) - Zombie (neither alive nor dead). On June 25 the Senate adopted free conference powers and the conference report, but the House motion to adopt free conference powers failed on two separate votes, the first time by a single vote (needed 83 votes; received 82 votes with 15 excused absences). We’ll see if the third time’s a charm if and when the House returns to consider a budget.
S.922 (governor appointments) - On life support. On June 25 the House nonconcurred in the Senate Amendments. Technically the Senate could recede from its amendments, which seems very unlikely, or request a conference committee. But at this last stage a path forward seems unlikely.
H.4300 (judges retirement & retirement age) - On life support. On June 25 the Senate amended the bill and it received a second reading. If it receives a third reading in the Senate and the House is in session to receive the bill, it is possible the House concurs in the Senate amendments and the bill is sent to Gov. McMaster for his decision.
S.52 (DUI) - Probably dead. On June 25 the House didn’t vote on it after the Senate rejected a free conference powers motion and seems unlikely another version will be adopted as an alternative.
H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products) - Dead. The Senate adopted the conference report on June 25 but the House overwhelmingly rejected it. Hemp-derived products will remain almost entirely free from state regulation and available for sale. However, law enforcement has made arrests and raids on wholesalers and retailers of these products despite no specific state law.
H.4042 (ivermectin over-the-counter sales) - Dead. The House recommitted the bill to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee on June 25.
Conference Committee Report on the FY27 Budget
The budget conference committee unanimously adopted its report on July 22. The proviso decisions and the summary control document are posted online. This is the most important piece of legislation the General Assembly considers each year. Some highlights:
$308.7M revenue set aside for income tax relief H.4216 (income taxes)
$81M revenue set aside for property tax relief by increasing the homestead exemption for persons age 65 and older to $75,000 from $50,000
$2,000 increase in teacher salaries including a minimum starting salary of $50,500, a legacy priority for Governor Henry McMaster
$175M new nonrecurring funds for county transportation committees
$189.5M new nonrecurring and capital reserve funds for SCDOT’s bridge modernization program, a legacy priority for Governor Henry McMaster
$175M capital reserve funds for MUSC’s proposed cancer hospital
$202.8M new recurring funds to DHHS for the state’s Medicaid program
$87.5M new nonrecurring funds for airport construction projects
$82M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for land conservation, a legacy priority for Governor Henry McMaster
$75M nonrecurring funds for rural schools and charter schools capital funding
$72.8M nonrecurring funds for the FEMA match requirements for federally declared disasters
$68.4M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for DSS
$67M new recurring funds for a 2% salary increase for all state employees
$50M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for BHDD
$48.8M nonrecurring funds for fire districts due to the increase in the homestead exemption
$37.6M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for SLED
$35M nonrecurring funds for farm aid
$34M new recurring funds for the state health plan to hold employer and employee premiums flat in benefit year 2027
$32M nonrecurring funds to pay for a legal settlement regarding Captain Sams Spit near Kiawah Island
$31M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for Corrections
$29M new recurring funds for in-state tuition mitigation
There were two major sticking points during the budget conference committee: property tax relief and community investment projects (CIP), also known as earmarks. The budget conference agreement set aside all CIPs to be determined at a later date via a concurrent resolution. Few details were publicly stated on July 22, such as which legislators will serve on this committee or if amendments will be permitted.
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 July 25 no conference committee meetings have been scheduled.
Senate Meetings
As of July 25 no committee meetings have been scheduled.
House Meetings
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
July 28, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its fourth meeting on the study of the Department of Employment and Workforce.
Joint Meetings
Joint Bond Review Committee
August 11, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The JBRC agenda has not 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 -
