Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Session Week 5
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 10-12 is 1,674 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 5 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has 14 bills (four on the contested calendar) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Bills that will generate some debate:
H.3477 (unemployment benefits)
H.4755 (JMSC reform)
H.3530 (Magistrates' Reform Act)
H.4813 (magistrate court fees and costs)
H.4758 (ban hemp-derived consumables)
S.477 (self-administered hormonal contraceptive)
H.5006 (Small Business Tax Cut of 2026)
H.4145 (Pray Safe Act)
H.4758, S.477, H.5006, and H.4145 are on the contested calendar to begin the week. It is anticipated other bills will join the contested calendar and February 11 is expected to be a “Wicked Wednesday” with debate stretching into the evening hours.
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 34 bills (26 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 eight bills that are not contested:
S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability)
S.695 (Safeguarding American Veterans' Benefits Act)
S.76 (criminal gang and anti-racketeering)
S.768 (increase homestead exemption)
H.4216 (income taxes)
S.832 (zoning ordinances and university events)
S.718 (remove persons from RV parks)
S.453 (teledentistry)
The Senate is expected to begin third reading debate on S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability) on February 10 as a motion was adopted on February 5 to allow amendments on third reading. It is anticipated to take no more than two floor sessions to finish the debate on the bill. The next two priorities for the Senate will be S.768 (increase homestead exemption), and H.4216 (income taxes), which since both concern taxation are somewhat tied together.
Week 4 Review
House floor sessions consumed 11 hours, 45 minutes. The House held three floor sessions, passed six bills, several road naming concurrent resolutions, and many congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the House last week included:
H.4756 (Student Physical Privacy Act)
H.4760 (ban abortion-inducing drugs)
H.4720 (pretrial intervention programs)
H.3551 (poll worker pay not taxable)
S.405 (homicide by child abuse)
S.415 (kin-specific licensing standards)
The House spent much of its floor time debating H.4760 (ban abortion-inducing drugs) and H.4759 (regulate hemp-derived consumables), the latter of which was recommitted to the House Judiciary Committee after many amendments were debated.
Senate floor sessions consumed 8 hours, 59 minutes. The Senate held three floor sessions, passed two bills, one joint resolution, one concurrent resolution, and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
S.883 (2026 sine die)
S.287 (electronic nicotine delivery systems)
S.52 (DUI)
S.880 (2026 special elections)
The Senate spent much of its floor time debating amendments to S.52, ultimately landing on a compromise amendment to move the bill forward. Additionally, the Senate overrode Governor McMaster’s veto of S.623 (Georgetown County building requirements exemption), which moves to the House for its veto consideration.
The big news on February 5 was the introduction of S.880 and which legislator was considering resignation. The suspense was abated when Senator Wes Climer publicly announced on February 7 that he intended to resign November 5, one day prior to Election Day. Sen. Climer is the leading candidate for the 5th Congressional Seat, which is being vacated by Congressman Ralph Norman - who is running for Governor.
The first bills to be ratified in 2026 took place on February 3 and await Gov. McMaster’s decision:
S.336 (establish judicial elections date)
S.779 (legislator in-district expense)
H.3431 (minors and social media)
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 (3 budget hearings)
Constitutional; February 10, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Public Education & Special Schools; February 10, 1 hour after adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Proviso; February 12, Immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees (5 7 budget hearings)
Natural Resources and Economic Development; February 10, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 10, 1 hour upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Criminal Justice; February 11, 8:45am; Agenda; Livestream
K-12 Education; February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Transportation; February 11, 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Higher Education; February 12, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Natural Resources and Economic Development; February 12, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 10, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.362 (games of skill), H.4129 (games of skill), S.631 (limitations on sex offender residences), S.723 (CSAM), and S.751 (prohibit sale of nitrous oxide to minors).
Senate Finance Retirement Systems Subcommittee
February 10, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.420 (investment funds by political subdivisions) and S.734 (state benefits forfeiture).
Senate Finance Sales & Income Tax Subcommittee
February 10, 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.519 (taxes on heated cigarettes), H.4303 (taxes on heated cigarettes), S.690 (delinquent debt definition), S.853 (abandoned buildings tax credit), and H.4137 (bingo licenses for veteran’s organizations).
Senate FVS Committee
February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: S.845 (Child Fatality Advisory Committee), S.858 (DCA Foster Care Review Division), S.868 (designate Gold Shield Day), and H.3798 (military chaplains & privileged communications).
Senate LCI Special Subcommittee
February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4305 (wellness reimbursement programs) and S.227 (local government concurrency programs).
Senate Education Committee
February 11, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.4902 (NIL FOIA exemption), S.70 (school board ethics), H.4257 (excused absences for interscholastic athletic contests), and H.3974 (medically necessary providers in public schools).
Senate Transportation Subcommittee
February 11, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.371 (mobile driver’s license).
Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
February 11, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are five bills and one regulation on the agenda: S.697 (211 Network), S.780 (conventional mortgage rate definition), S.787 (exempt bridge loans from refinancing), S.857 (contingent deferred annuities), S.619 (insurer liquidation), and a regulation from the Board of Financial Institutions repealing Regulation 15-39D (Non-interest Bearing Negotiable Order of Withdrawal Accounts).
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
February 11, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived consumables).
Senate LCI Special Subcommittee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.688 (unemployment trust fund reform).
Senate Transportation Subcommittee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.831 (SCDOT modernization). This is the fourth hearing on this legislation.
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.162 (birth certificates and gender).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three nominees to the Workers’ Compensation Commission on the agenda for screening: Thomas Scott Beck, John Gabriel Coggiola, and Aisha K. Taylor. All three are current commissioners and Commissioner Beck is the WCC Chair.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
February 12, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived consumables).
Senate Finance Property Tax Subcommittee
February 12, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.317 (house boat property taxes), S.61 (watercraft & outboard motor taxes), and H.3858 (watercraft & outboard motor taxes).
House Meetings
House Agriculture Wildlife Subcommittee
February 10, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.337 (blue catfish), S.383 (official state migratory bird), and H.5095 (water testing & abortion-inducing drug compounds).
House Judiciary DRBP Subcommittee
February 10, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.3013 (guardian ad litem qualifications) and H.4270 (expunge eviction notices).
House Invitations Committee
February 10, 10:45am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are nine concurrent resolutions on the agenda naming various roads and intersections.
House EPW K-12 Subcommittee
February 10, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.5073 (Uniform Grading Policy), H.4610 (American Sign Language Symbol Act), and H.3873 (mandate child identification kits).
House LCI Regulatory Review Subcommittee
February 10, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4103 (expand optometrists scope of practice) and H.4752 (remove barber apprenticeship requirement). No action will be taken on H.4103 but public testimony will be accepted.
House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee
February 10, 1:30pm or 30 minutes upon adjournment; 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 is the second hearing on these three bills.
House EPW Higher Education Subcommittee
February 10, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4761 (college faculty annual and post-tenure evaluations) and H.4738 (CHE cleanup bill).
House LCI Business and Commerce Subcommittee
February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.583 (funeral directors continuing education).
House Ways & Means Revenue Policy Subcommittee
February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.5071 (SCDOT Modernization). This is the second hearing on this bill.
House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.4151 (youth offenders & weapons crimes), H.5117 (youth offender cases & general sessions court), H.5120 (youth offender fingerprints), and H.5121 (community juvenile crime prevention programs). These bills are the work of the House Juvenile Crime Assessment and Strategic Reform Ad Hoc Committee.
House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Subcommittee
February 11, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four regulations on the agenda: one from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, one from the Board of Accountancy, and two from the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
House Legislative Oversight Subcommittee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The subcommittee will hold its fifth meeting on the study of the Department of Insurance.
House Agriculture Subcommittee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.5096 (ban artificial/cell-cultivated food products), H.5097 (roadside markets), and H.5116 (fireworks & horses).
House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee
February 12, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are 15 regulations on the agenda: 13 from various boards under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and two from the Department of Public Health.
Joint Meetings
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
