Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Session Week 14
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 April 14-16 is 1,947 words or an 8 minute read. The General Assembly convened on January 13 and will adjourn on May 14. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
FY 2026-2027 Agency Budget Requests
2026 Candidate Tracking Portal
***There are 5 weeks remaining in the 2026 regular session***
Week 14 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 28 bills (five on the contested calendar) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 24 House bills and four Senate bills on the House calendar. Bills that will generate some debate:
H.5217 (increase deer tag limits)
S.337 (blue catfish limits)
H.5057 (lottery ticket vending machines)
H.4103 (expand optometrists scope of practice)
H.4756 (Student Physical Privacy Act) - Senate Amendments
H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products) - Senate Amendments
H.4758 (ban hemp-derived consumables)
As a reminder, do not sleep on hunting and fishing bills: H.5217 and S.337. These bills typically generate more debate than is anticipated by advocates.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 64 bills (33 are contested), 14 joint resolutions (one is contested; 13 are regulations), one Senate resolution, and two concurrent resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 27 statewide bills that are not contested that may generate debate and earn floor time:
S.449 (collaborative practice agreements) - House Amendments
H.3974 (medically necessary providers in public schools)
H.3556 (political party nominating contests)
S.866 (Municipal Tax Relief Act)
H.3768 (extend sunset of Act 36 of 2019)
S.76 (criminal gang and anti-racketeering)
S.270 (attempted murder)
S.222 (utility terrain vehicles)
H.3258 (mobile panic alert systems)
H.3453 (veterans' children tuition assistance)
S.788 (psychotherapy & restrict AI use)
S.1038 (Religious Liberty Day)
H.3872 (Hunting Heritage Protection Act)
H.5284 (Abbeville County Register of Deeds)
S.447 (license plate readers)
S.765 (South Carolina Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers' Association dues)
S.822 (deed theft)
S.879 (Master-in-Equity terms of office)
S.903 (homeowners associations)
S.915 (Medicaid fraud)
S.983 (remove personal information & eviction orders)
S.1005 (judicial salaries)
S.1100 (law enforcement animals)
H.3020 (delete crime of playing pinball)
H.3285 (law enforcement autism spectrum disorder training)
H.4720 (pretrial intervention programs)
Remaining in the status of Special Order is S.508 (monuments and memorials). The bill may tie up the Senate until it begins debating its version of the budget the week of April 20. If this occurs that leaves the Senate with not much time to debate other priority legislation for Senate leadership, such data centers, criminal gang/anti-racketeering, local government concurrency, and tax legislation.
As the General Assembly races towards adjournment on May 14, it is anticipated the noise about the “House not passing Senate bills; Senate not passing House bills” will only grow. Compounding this annual tradition is that only the House is on the ballot this November. It’s a challenging climate ahead for legislative advocates.
Lastly, a friendly reminder. The fate of two critical pieces of legislation remains unknown:
S.883 (2026 sine die resolution) - Passed Senate; House possession since February 4
S.769 (FY27 continuing resolution) - Passed Senate; House possession since January 28
Week 13 Review
Neither the House nor the Senate held any statewide floor sessions. The Senate Finance Committee completed its work on H.5126 (FY27 Budget) and the Senate Judiciary Committee met, approving 12 bills.
Senate Finance Committee FY27 Budget
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously adopted its version of H.5126 (FY27 Budget). The proviso packets and the summary control document are posted on the SFC webpage. 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)
$247.7M revenue set aside for property tax relief S.768 (increase homestead exemption)
$2,000 increase in teacher salaries including a minimum starting salary of $50,500, a priority for Governor Henry McMaster
$200M new nonrecurring funds for county transportation committees
$189.5M new nonrecurring and capital reserve funds for SCDOT’s bridge modernization program, a priority for Governor Henry McMaster
$175M capital reserve funds for MUSC’s proposed cancer hospital
$142.6M new recurring funds to DHHS for the state’s Medicaid program
$72.8M nonrecurring funds for the FEMA match requirements for federally declared disasters
$67.37M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for land conservation, a priority for Governor Henry McMaster
$67M new recurring funds for a 2% salary increase for all state employees
$53.3M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for DSS
$34M new recurring funds for the state health plan to hold employer and employee premiums flat in benefit year 2027
$33M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for Corrections
$30M new nonrecurring funds for airport construction projects
$27.8M for in-state tuition mitigation funding
$27M new recurring and nonrecurring funds for SLED
Two other developments in the SFC version of the budget to note. First, the return of community investment projects (CIP), also known as earmarks. But nearly every CIP is for a local government entity, nonprofit CIPs have not returned yet. Second, $32M nonrecurring funds to pay for a legal settlement regarding Captain Sams Spit near Kiawah Island was not included. The Senate floor debate on the budget is the week of April 20.
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
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
April 14, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.1095 (abortion).
Senate Banking and Insurance Subcommittee
April 14, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.4817 (Insurance Rate Reduction and Policyholder Protection Act).
Senate Education Subcommittee
April 14, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.4163 (SC High School Athletic Association Act), H.5073 (Uniform Grading Policy), and H.4738 (CHE cleanup bill).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 14, 15 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.3874 (Workers’ Compensation Commission medical fee schedules), H.3163 (firefighters & workers’ comp), H.5113 (manufactured homes & zoning), and S.116 (Multifamily Dwelling Safety Act).
Senate Finance Committee
April 14, Upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.436 (aircraft property tax), S.556 (renewal natural gas tax credit), and S.933 (legislator compensation).
Senate Finance Retirement Systems Subcommittee
April 14, Upon adjournment of Senate Finance; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.119 (PORS & remove earnings limitation).
Senate Family and Veterans Services Committee
April 15, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills and six appointments on the agenda: H.5168 (official state song - “Carolina When I Die” by Patrick Davis) and H.3949 (official state choral anthem).
Senate LCI Subcommittee
April 15, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.896 (Chatbot Protection Act) and S.1037 (Protecting Children from Chatbots Act).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 15, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.702 (criminal coercive control) and S.745 (Help Find Missing Americans Act).
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
April 15, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.3022 (long-term care council), H.3842 (handicapped parking placards), H.4189 (DHEC restructuring code cleanup), and H.5164 (hospital beds in hallways).
Senate Education Subcommittee
April 15, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.984 (opioid and fentanyl awareness programs), H.5179 (higher education mapping program), and H.5205 (college student safety training).
Senate Oversight Subcommittee
April 15, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive presentations from three agencies: Department of Archives & History, State Museum Commission, and Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum.
Senate Transportation Committee
April 15, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are seven bills on the agenda: S.869 (tribal governments license plates), S.904 (“Quail Forever” license plate), H.5131 (tribal governments license plates), S.1036 (rental car insurance), H.4249 (emergency scene management), S.872 (immigration status & driver's licenses), and a bill to be introduced regarding license plate blackout devices.
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 15, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.632 (local government lobbying) and S.960 (independent expenditure committees).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 15, 15 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.1001 (retail alcoholic beverage caterers) and S.849 (alcohol delivery & curbside pickup).
Senate FVS Child Welfare Subcommittee
April 16, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3502 (child welfare proceedings).
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
April 16, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six appointments and six regulations on the agenda, plus any bills from the April 15 meeting that remain pending.
Senate Education Committee
April 16, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: H.4163 (SC High School Athletic Association Act), H.5073 (Uniform Grading Policy), S.984 (opioid and fentanyl awareness programs), H.5205 (college student safety training), H.5179 (higher education mapping program), and H.4738 (CHE cleanup bill).
House Meetings
House Agricultural Environmental Affairs Subcommittee
April 14, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: As of April 11 no agenda has been posted.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
April 14, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its first meeting on the study of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
House EPW K-12 Education Subcommittee
April 14, 11:15am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability).
House Judiciary Committee
April 14, 1:30pm or 1 hour upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are seven bills on the agenda: H.4641 (Kratom ban), H.3408 (foreign ownership of real estate), H.4754 (religious corporations), H.3047 (balloon releases & litter offenses), H.3597 (sentence reduction for substantial assistance with law enforcement), H.5401 (uncertified electronic monitoring services), and H.5288 (cargo theft).
House Education and Public Works Committee
April 14, 1 hour upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability), H.5483 (student discipline), S.416 (school district expulsions), H.5504 (Foreign Influence Operations Out of American Education Act), and H.5201 (school security assessments & plans).
House LCI Business & Commerce Subcommittee
April 14, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: S.718 (remove persons from RV parks) and public testimony-only will be received on H.4766 (Decentralized Autonomous Organization Act), H.4750 (Injured Workers Transparency Act), and H.4985 (Proxy Advisor Transparency Act).
House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
April 15, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.52 (DUI).
House LCI Banking and Insurance Subcommittee
April 15, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.857 (contingent deferred annuities), S.619 (insurer liquidation), and S.787 (exempt bridge loans from refinancing).
House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
April 16, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.52 (DUI).
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
April 16, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4699 (candidates & tax compliance) and H.5059 (Catawba Nation police department).
House LCI Regulatory Review Subcommittee
April 16, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are fours bills on the agenda: S.150 (Rental Kart Age Act), S.697 (211 Network), and public testimony-only will be received on H.4794 (omnibus PBM bill) and H.4791 (prescription drug price controls).
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 (projected)
May 14, 2026: Session Adjourns
May 19, 2026: BEA revenue forecast update
