Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Session Week 15
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 21-23 is 1,440 words or an 6 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 4 weeks remaining in the 2026 regular session***
Week 15 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 24 bills (12 on the contested calendar) and two joint resolutions eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 23 House bills and one Senate bill on the House calendar. Bills that will generate some debate:
H.5057 (lottery ticket vending machines)
H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products) - Senate Amendments
H.4758 (ban hemp-derived consumables)
H.4042 (ivermectin over-the-counter sales)
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 70 bills (30 are contested), four joint resolutions (one is contested; two are regulations), and one concurrent resolution eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 43 Senate bills and 27 House bills on the Senate calendar.
The Senate will spend its week debating H.5126 (FY27 Budget). If the work is completed on Wednesday, the Senate will revert back to its calendar and consider uncontested legislation.
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 14 Review
House floor sessions consumed 5 hours, 12 minutes excluding the time consumed for the joint assembly to elect trustees to colleges and universities. The House held three floor sessions, passed 17 bills, eight road-naming resolutions, and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the House last week included:
H.4679 (Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act)
H.4706 (racing facilities & taking causes of action)
H.4248 (shrimp country of origin labeling)
H.5069 (Protected Lands and Conservation Coordination Act)
H.5111 (prohibit mandatory municipal water system connections)
H.5217 (increase deer tag limits)
H.5473 (Jeffords Causeway & prohibit fishing)
H.4756 (Student Physical Privacy Act) - Enrolled for ratification
H.3557 (candidate filing) - Enrolled for ratification
H.4611 (paid parental leave and stillbirth)
H.5173 (rural hospitals and certificate of need)
H.3771 (marine recovery insurance)
S.463 (prohibit swimming near designated public boat landings) - Enrolled for ratification
S.32 (pregnancy care tax credit) - Enrolled for ratification
S.337 (blue catfish limits)
S.585 (Safeguarding American Families Everywhere “SAFE” Act)
H.5401 (uncertified electronic monitoring services)
Senate floor sessions consumed 10 hours, 36 minutes excluding the time consumed for the joint assembly to elect trustees to colleges and universities. The Senate held three floor sessions, passed 11 bills and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
H.3974 (medically necessary providers in public schools)
H.3556 (political party nominating contests)
S.866 (Municipal Tax Relief Act)
S.508 (monuments and memorials)
H.3650 (discharge firearm at a dwelling)
H.5284 (Abbeville County Register of Deeds)
S.765 (South Carolina Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers' Association dues)
Senate Finance Committee FY27 Budget
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously adopted its version of H.5126 (FY27 Budget) on April 8. 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 Judiciary Subcommittee
April 21, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.1001 (retail alcoholic beverage caterers), S.849 (alcohol delivery & curbside pickup), and S.355 (micro-distillery tastings).
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
April 21, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.1095 (abortion).
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
April 21, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.720 (Humane Dog Breeding Act).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
April 22, 8:45am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.4805 (create new circuit court and family court judgeships), H.4813 (magistrate court fees and costs), H.3013 (guardian ad litem qualifications), and H.3335 (magistrate court representation).
Senate FVS Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
April 22, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3510 (county veterans’ affairs officers) and S.1043 (Civil Air Patrol Leave Act).
Senate Oversight Subcommittee
April 22, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will receive presentations from two agencies: Arts Commission and SCETV.
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
April 22, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills and two regulations on the agenda: H.4069 (patient billing), H.4635 (gym contract renewals), and H.4799 (CON exemption for state-owned/operated facilities).
House Meetings
House Ethics Committee
April 21, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will consider one case and fine appeal.
House W&M General Government Subcommittee
April 21, Upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.238 (legislative session extension), S.863 (culinary arts management degree programs), and S.420 (investment funds by political subdivisions).
House 3M Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee
April 21, 1 hour after adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.160 (Dietitian Licensure Compact Act), S.453 (teledentistry), S.819 (tuberculosis testing in nursing homes), S.862 (involuntary commitment), and S.894 (death certificates).
House LCI Regulatory Review Subcommittee
April 21, 1 hour after adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.715 (solicitation of charitable funds) and H.4476 (South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission).
House LCI Banking and Insurance Subcommittee
April 21, Upon adjournment of LCI Regulatory Review Subcommittee; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: H.5538 (Guarantee Banking Act), S.851 (financial exploitation), S.780 (conventional mortgage rate definition), S.787 (exempt bridge loans from refinancing), S.196 (insurance adjusters), and S.830 (auto insurance & nonprofit members).
House 3M Municipal and Public Affairs Subcommittee
April 22, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3165 (annexation & impact fees) and H.4293 (zoning & permits).
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
April 22, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.582 (ratify constitutional amendment).
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
April 22, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are 13 bills on the agenda:
S.718 (remove persons from RV parks)
S.857 (contingent deferred annuities)
S.619 (insurer liquidation)
H.5538 (Guarantee Banking Act)
S.851 (financial exploitation)
S.780 (conventional mortgage rate definition)
S.787 (exempt bridge loans from refinancing)
S.196 (insurance adjusters)
S.830 (auto insurance & nonprofit members).
S.150 (Rental Kart Age Act)
S.697 (211 Network)
S.715 (solicitation of charitable funds)
H.4476 (South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission)
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
