Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Session Sine Die
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 May 12-14 is 944 words or a 4 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 is 1 week remaining in the 2026 regular session***
Week 18 Preview
Outside of the 2020 session during COVID, this sine die week is the most uncertain this decade. There are some known milestones:
S.769 (FY27 continuing resolution) was passed by the House and enrolled for ratification. There will be no state government shutdown once Governor Henry McMaster signs it.
H.5126 (FY27 Budget) has a conference committee: Chairman Bannister, Rep. Lee Hewitt, and Rep. Jackie Hayes for the House; Chairman Peeler, Senator Tom Davis, and Senator Brad Hutto for the Senate. H.5127 (capital reserve fund) is awaiting ratification and signature by Gov. McMaster.
There are 20 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions (3 Senate; 17 House) enrolled for ratification. More will be enrolled and ratified this week.
There are four bills in conference committees: S.477 (self-administered hormonal contraceptive), S.831 (SCDOT modernization), H.5126 (FY27 Budget), and H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products). S.477’s report has been adopted by the Senate and awaits consideration in the House. The other three have yet to hold a conference committee meeting. Expect a few more bills to move into a conference committee before sine die.
The news that will dominate the week is what the General Assembly does with mid-decade redistricting. The House appears poised to pass H.5684 (congressional district primary elections), which would delay the congressional primaries until August 2026 with new lines drawn underH.5683 (new congressional districts map).
The Senate’s position is uncertain at best, but several Republican senators have expressed skepticism on their social media pages. Depending on when the House passes H.5684 (congressional district primary elections) and H.5683 (new congressional districts map), this legislation could tie up the Senate floor for the entire legislative day. If that occurs on May 14 - the final day - that could kill dozens of bills for failure to receive a third reading, concurrence, or sent to a conference committee.
S.883 (2026 sine die resolution) is back before the Senate after the House amended it to include consideration of congressional district redistricting legislation. Whether or not the Senate agrees to that amendment is unknown. Since 1975, only two sessions ended without a sine die resolution: 2003 and 2023. What will be the fate in 2026?
Some priority legislation remains in legislative limbo:
S.883 (2026 sine die resolution)
H.5684 (congressional district primary elections)
H.5683 (new congressional districts map)
H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived products)
S.52 (DUI)
S.768 (increase homestead exemption)
S.831 (SCDOT modernization)
S.751 (prohibit sale of nitrous oxide to minors)
H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act)
S.933 (legislator compensation)
H.3195 (physical education requirements)
H.3387 (unlawful occupants of property)
H.3049 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act)
H.4248 (shrimp country of origin labeling)
H.5006 (Small Business Tax Cut of 2026)
S.508 (monuments and memorials)
H.4763 (Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction “HALO” Act)
H.4069 (patient billing)
H.4817 (Insurance Rate Reduction and Policyholder Protection Act)
S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability)
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 64 bills (ten on the contested calendar), two joint resolutions, and two concurrent resolutions (road naming) for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 26 House bills (seven are contested) and 38 Senate bills (eight are contested) on the House calendar.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 59 bills (37 are contested) and one joint resolution (one is contested) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. There are 24 Senate bills (23 are contested) and 25 House bills (14 are contested) on the Senate calendar. No bills are in the status of Special Order.
Folks, it’s gonna be a long week. Buckle up.
2026 Rules Review
The final nine days of session can be chaotic especially as the 126th General Assembly approaches its conclusion. Take four minutes to read our House and Senate Rules Review. Like any sporting contest, the rules dictate how the game is played.
Week 17 Review
House floor sessions consumed 14 hours, 52 minutes. The House held three floor sessions, passed 36 bills, one joint resolution, and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. The House spent most of its Wednesday debating amendments to H.5126 (FY27 Budget) and working through its calendar.
Senate floor sessions consumed 12 hours, 16 minutes. The Senate held three floor sessions, passed 43 bills, one joint resolution and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. The Senate worked its calendar with an emphasis on debating House bills.
For brevity’s stake, we will not post the 79 bills and two joint resolutions passed last week.
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
S.831 Conference Committee
May 12, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The conference committee will hold its first meeting on S.831 (SCDOT modernization).
Senate Meetings
Senate Judiciary Committee
May 12, 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The full committee will consider six appointments to the Santee Cooper Board of Directors. All are re-appointments of current board members.
House Meetings
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
May 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.5683 (new congressional districts map).
House Judiciary Committee
May 12, 10:30am or upon adjournment of Constitutional Laws Subcommittee; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one joint resolution and one bill on the agenda: H.5684 (congressional district primary elections) and H.5683 (new congressional districts map).
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
May 13, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3039 (Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act).
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
