Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Overtime Week 8
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 6-10, is 741 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 8 Preview
Neither the House nor the Senate will hold statewide floor sessions this week. The Senate will meet in perfunctory session on July 8 under the unanimous consent agreement made on June 25 to consider magistrates and resolutions expressing congratulatory messages or sympathy.
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 H.4377 conference committee adopted a report on June 16 but it has not been considered by either chamber. The conference committee on H.3570 hasn’t met. The budget conference committee is scheduled to meet at 11am on July 14.
Overtime Week 7 Review
Neither the House nor the Senate held any floor sessions.
The conference committee on H.5126 (FY27 Budget) met for the second time on June 30 for 4 hours, 13 minutes. While it resolved many provisos not tied to funding decisions, there is no new budget. The conference committee will meet on July 14 at 11am. The new state fiscal year began under the provisions of S.769 (continuing resolution).
Governor McMaster signed all nine bills presented to him for his decision right:
S.11 (state employee paid parental leave)
S.1043 (Civil Air Patrol Leave Act)
H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act)
H.4069 (patient billing)
H.4248 (shrimp country of origin labeling)
H.4635 (gym contract renewals)
H.4709 (Buy American Iron and Steel Act)
H.5538 (Guarantee Banking Act)
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 is meeting July 14.
H.4337 (LAC powers & private organizations) - Pending. The conference committee report wasn’t considered by either chamber on June 25 even though the conference committee adopted a report on June 16.
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.
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
H.5126 Conference Committee
July 14, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The conference committee will hold its second meeting on H.5126 (FY27 Budget).
Senate Meetings
As of July 4 no committee meetings have been scheduled.
House Meetings
As of July 4 no committee meetings have been scheduled.
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 -
