Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Session Week 4
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 February 3-5 is 1,688 words or a 6.5 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
Senate Budget Calendar (TBA)
FY 2026-2027 Agency Budget Requests
Week 4 Preview
As of February 1, no decision has been made regarding floor sessions and committee meetings scheduled for February 3. Weather forecasters have projected significant impacts to the Upstate and Midlands due to Winter Storm Gianna, on the heels of Winter Storm Fern’s damage the prior week.
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm2pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has eight bills (two on the contested calendar) and 12 concurrent resolutions (none controversial) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Bills that may generate some debate:
H.4756 (Student Physical Privacy Act) - Third Reading debate
H.4758 (ban hemp-derived consumables)
H.4759 (regulate hemp-derived consumables)
S.477 (self-administered hormonal contraceptive)
H.4760 (ban abortion-inducing drugs)
It is anticipated only one of the hemp-derived consumables bills will pass, since one seeks to regulate while the other seeks to ban these products. H.4760 is expected to consume some floor time as well, while some legislators may attempt to use S.477 as a vehicle for other abortion-related policies.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm2pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 34 bills (25 are contested), one joint resolution (one is contested), and two concurrent resolutions (none controversial) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. The nine bills that are not contested:
S.287 (electronic nicotine delivery systems) - House Amendments
S.26 (watercraft liability insurance)
S.52 (DUI)
S.76 (criminal gang and anti-racketeering)
S.768 (increase homestead exemption)
H.4216 (income taxes)
S.832 (zoning ordinances and university events)
S.695 (Safeguarding American Veterans' Benefits Act)
S.718 (remove persons from RV parks)
S.52 (DUI) is in Interrupted Debate status, giving it priority consideration on the Senate calendar per Senate Rule 32 (Order of the Day). This will be the third week of debate on the bill, which Senate leadership has said it will commit as much floor time as needed to pass it. After the S.52 debate is concluded, the next four priority bills are S.76 (criminal gang and anti-racketeering), S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability), S.768 (increase homestead exemption), and H.4216 (income taxes).
Week 3 Review
House floor sessions consumed 5 hours, 4 minutes. The House held two floor sessions, passed one bill, one joint resolution, and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the House last week included:
S.336 (establish judicial elections date) - Enrolled for ratification
S.779 (legislator in-district expense) - Enrolled for ratification
The House spent much of its floor time debating H.4756 (Student Physical Privacy Act), which had three amendments adopted and received a second reading by a vote of 96-19. Three bills were recommitted to committee, effectively ending their viability for the session:
H.4176 (Class III casino gaming)
H.4165 (non-opioid pain management treatments)
H.4385 ((veterans’ nursing homes)
Santee Development Corporation LLC spent the most money to support H.4176:
$413,560.19 in lobbyist payments, spread across 18 registered lobbyists, as reported on State Ethics Commission disclosures for calendar year 2025. This represents only reported payments for lobbying services; non-lobbying consulting and legal work paid to others is unreported, so the total spent is likely in excess of $500,000.
$85,000 to four legislative caucuses in calendar year 2025: $25,000 each to the House Republican Caucus, Senate Republican Caucus, House Democratic Caucus, and $10,000 to the House Democratic Women’s Caucus.
Greenville gaming entrepreneur Wallace Cheves is the CEO of Santee Development Corporation LLC. In calendar year 2025, he made personal contributions to state political candidates totaling $17,500.
Senate floor sessions consumed 6 hours, 10 minutes. The Senate held two floor sessions, passed zero bills, but several congratulatory and memorial resolutions.
Governor McMaster delivered his final State of the State Address. Consuming a little more than one hour (video recording), Gov. McMaster advocated for many of his FY27 Executive Budget priorities, but took time to revisit several legislative priorities that he and the General Assembly enacted during his tenure. He concluded his speech with a moving tribute to First Lady Peggy McMaster, and the two of them will soon celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
As we have opined many times, after the annual appropriations act, the second most important - and political - process in the General Assembly is the election of judges. The Judicial Merit Selection Committee (JMSC) report and recommendations were published January 28 and will become final February 9. Judicial elections are scheduled for Wednesday, March 4.
This cycle will be the first conducted under the new requirements enacted in Act 219 of 2024. The marquee race will be Seat 2 on the South Carolina Supreme Court. Incumbent Justice John Few faces Court of Appeals Judge Blake Hewitt (a candidate for the 2024 Supreme Court seat won by Justice Letitia Verdin), former Speaker of the House Jay Lucas, and perennial candidate Judge Ralph K. Anderson III.
Out of 33 candidates whose qualifications were part of the report, only three were found "Not Qualified." All State Supreme Court candidates were found qualified and there are 6 contested elections as of January 28, 2026. Dozens of judicial candidates have been in the lobby and committee meeting rooms during the first two weeks of session.
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.
House Ways & Means Budget Subcommittees (7 budget hearings)
Public Education & Special Schools; February 3, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Healthcare; February 3, 1 hour after adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Transportation; February 3, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 3, 2 hours after adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Public Education & Special Schools; February 4, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 5, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Economic Development; February 5, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate Banking & Insurance Subcommittee
February 4, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.857 (contingent deferred annuities) and S.619 (insurer liquidation).
Senate FVS Child Welfare Subcommittee
February 4, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.809 (youth sport coaches background checks), S.845 (Child Fatality Advisory Committee), and S.858 (DCA Foster Care Review Division).
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
February 4, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will screen one candidate for one seat on the State Commission of Forestry and consider three regulations from the Department of Natural Resources.
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 4, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.692 (ESTF cleanup bill).
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 4, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3974 (medically necessary providers in public schools).
Senate Transportation Subcommittee
February 4, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.831 (SCDOT modernization). This is the third hearing on this legislation.
Senate FVS Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee
February 4, 11:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.868 (designate Gold Shield Day), S.870 (military chaplains & privileged communications), and H.3798 (military chaplains & privileged communications).
Senate Banking & Insurance Subcommittee
February 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.342 (PBMs & pharmacy services).
Senate Corrections & Penology Committee
February 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two screenings for agencies on the agenda: one candidate for the Board of Juvenile Parole and a confirmation hearing for Mr. Joel Anderson, who has been nominated for Director, Department of Corrections.
Senate LCI Special Subcommittee
February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.821 (lawyer advertising unfair practice).
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.160 (Dietitian Licensure Compact Act), S.453 (teledentistry), S.717 (Healthy Mother and Healthy Newborn Ombudsman), and S.819 (tuberculosis testing in nursing homes).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 5, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3021 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act) and S.254 (Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act).
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
February 5, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.867 (regulate data centers).
House Meetings
House Ways and Means Committee
February 3, 1:30pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.5006 (Small Business Tax Cut of 2026), H.3477 (unemployment benefits), and H.3551 (poll worker pay not taxable).
House EPW K-12 Subcommittee
February 3, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4468 (special education advisory councils) and H.3197 (college and workforce readiness).
House LCI Regulatory Review Subcommittee
February 3, 1 hour upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.4752 (remove barber apprenticeship requirement).
House Judiciary Committee
February 3, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3530 (Magistrates' Reform Act), H.4813 (magistrate court fees and costs), and H.4511 (probate court notice to creditors).
House 3M Committee
February 3, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: H.4767 (prohibit physician non-compete contracts), H.4757 (Parental Rights Act in Education and Healthcare), H.4586 (US Space Force designation), H.3187 (display barber poles), H.4188 (disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains), and H.4635 (gym contract renewals).
House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee
February 4, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.3857 (alcohol delivery and curbside pickup), H.4001 (Sunday alcohol sales), and H.5017 (expand micro-distillery tastings hours). This subcommittee sounds like a party!
House 3M Military and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
February 4, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.4799 (CON exemption for state-owned/operated facilities).
House Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee
February 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4591 (social media) and H.4804 (sexual exploitation of a minor).
House Ways & Means Revenue Policy Subcommittee
February 5, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.5071 (SCDOT Modernization).
Joint Meetings
Public Utilities Review Committee
February 3, 4pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The agenda lists one candidate for one Public Service Commission seat will be screened.
Joint Bond Review Committee
February 4, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: This is the rescheduled meeting from January 28.
Joint Bond Review Committee
March 25, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The JBRC agenda has not yet been posted.
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 (unconfirmed)
March 9-13, 2026: House floor budget deliberations
March 16-20: House furlough week (scheduled)
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
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
