Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Overtime Week 16
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 August 31-September 4, is 793 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 16 Preview
No floor sessions will be held during the week. The Senate will meet in perfunctory session on September 2 under the unanimous consent agreement made on June 25 to consider magistrates and resolutions expressing congratulatory messages or sympathy.
While neither chamber leader made any definitive statements on August 25 about future floor sessions, members we spoke with believe another floor session is unlikely before the November elections. Budget vetoes, if of interest to either chamber, can be considered early in the next legislative session.
Overtime Week 15 Review
Both the House and Senate held floor sessions on August 25. The chambers resolved their differences regarding community investment projects (CIPs or earmarks) in separate legislation via H.3305 (supplemental appropriations). This House bill was what other state legislatures call a “gut-and-go.” Its contents were removed and replaced with the agreed upon list of CIPs. The original bill was named the Public Expression Protection Act and was an attempt to end strategic lawsuits against public participation, often called SLAPPs. The Senate passed it without much fanfare, while the House had some debate and points of order but ultimately passed the bill. As of August 29, Gov. McMaster has not taken action on the bill.
As part of the agreement, leaders in both chambers said a continuing resolution would be passed early in the 2027 regular session and the House would include CIPs in its first version of the FY28 budget, which is typically passed in March.
There were seven bills in the status of a conference committee or had some action taken during floor sessions held on June 25 and August 11. But based upon statements and sentiments, it appears none will become law:
H.4337 (LAC powers & private organizations) - The conference committee adopted a report on June 16 but was never considered by either chamber.
H.3570 (economic interests disclosures) - The conference committee never met on the bill.
H.4042 (ivermectin over-the-counter sales) - The House recommitted the bill to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee on June 25. However, on August 11 Rep. Justin Bamberg made a motion to reconsider the vote to recommit the bill. A motion to table failed on a recorded vote 43-51, with the many members of the House Republican Caucus joining the House Freedom Caucus and a few House Democrats to defeat the tabling motion. It wasn’t considered on August 25.
S.922 (governor appointments) - On June 25 the House nonconcurred in the Senate Amendments and has never been spoken of again.
S.52 (DUI) - On June 25 the House didn’t vote on it after the Senate rejected a free conference powers motion . The bill died because of the THC/hemp related provisions.
H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products) - The Senate adopted the conference report on June 25 but the House overwhelmingly rejected it. Advocates for the bill and law enforcement are waiting to see if the current federal THC limit implementation date of November 12 actually comes to pass or if it is postponed. For now in South Carolina, these are largely unregulated products.
H.4763 (Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction “HALO” Act) - 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). Sen. Jeff Zell, a supporter of the bill, posted on social media that the bill was dead for the year.
New House Majority Leader, New Judges, and New Budget
Three important events occurred in August that are important to highlight.
Current House Rules Chair Micah Caskey was unanimously elected as the new House Majority Leader. Current House Majority Leader Davey Hiott is retiring after 12 terms in the House. Congratulations to Leader Caskey on his new role and we wish Leader Hiott well in his retirement in lovely Pickens County.
Candidates had until 12pm on August 24 to file for 22 judgeships and eight master-in-equity seats. Only two seats are contested: South Carolina Supreme Court Seat 2 and Orangeburg County master-in-equity. The candidates for the state supreme court seat are:
The Honorable Ralph K. Anderson III (perennial candidate)
The Honorable John Geathers (current Court of Appeals judge)
The Honorable Eugene Cannon Griffith Jr. (current circuit court judge)
The Honorable Blake Hewitt (candidate in the 2024 and 2026 races)
The Honorable Maite Murphy (candidate in the 2023 race but withdrew before the JMSC report was issued)
While the General Assembly completed its work on the FY27 budget, state agencies are beginning work on the FY28 budget. The Executive Budget Office released its guidance to agencies this month and all agency budget requests are due by September 25.
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.
Senate Meetings
As of August 29 no committee meetings have been scheduled.
House Meetings
As of August 29 no committee meetings have been scheduled.
Joint Meetings
Joint Bond Review Committee
October 6, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The JBRC agenda has not been posted.
Joint Bond Review Committee
December 1, 1pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The JBRC agenda has not been posted.
2026 Key Dates
September 25: FY28 state agency budget requests deadline
November 3: General Election
November 8: Special session adjourned
November 19: BEA estimate for FY28 budget released
December: House and Senate organization sessions and prefiled legislation deadlines
