Copper Dome Chronicle: 2026 Session Week 6
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 17-19 is 1,795 words or a 7 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 6 Preview
The House will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (10am), and Thursday (10am). The House has nine bills (six on the contested calendar) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Bills that will generate some debate:
H.4758 (ban hemp-derived consumables)
S.477 (self-administered hormonal contraceptive)
H.4145 (Pray Safe Act)
H.4757 (Parental Rights Act in Education and Healthcare)
H.4762 (display Ten Commandments/US History documents in public classrooms)
H.3530 (Magistrates' Reform Act)
H.4813 (magistrate court fees and costs)
Due to the need for the House Ways and Means Committee to meet and pass a budget, floor sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday may not be as extended as normally expected given the number of contested bills on the calendar. But this Thursday could be longer than normal given the current calendar and the bills that will be reported out by full committees this week will only increase the calendar’s size. Many advocates are pushing to get their legislation passed prior to House budget week (March 9-13) and the traditional House furlough week (March 16-20).
The Senate will hold floor sessions on Tuesday (12pm), Wednesday (1pm), and Thursday (11am). The Senate has 46 bills (26 are contested), five joint resolutions (one is contested) and one concurrent resolution (none controversial) eligible for consideration on its calendar to begin the week. Some bills that are not contested that may generate debate and earn floor time:
S.76 (criminal gang and anti-racketeering)
S.768 (increase homestead exemption)
H.4216 (income taxes)
H.4902 (NIL FOIA exemption)
S.70 (school board ethics)
H.4257 (excused absences for interscholastic athletic contests)
H.3974 (medically necessary providers in public schools)
S.858 (DCA Foster Care Review Division)
H.3798 (military chaplains & privileged communications)
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)
The Senate is expected to continue its debate and consideration of S.768 (increase homestead exemption); more amendments are anticipated. After this bill, the Senate likely will move to consider its version of H.4216 (income taxes). The fate of both bills are tied together since both are tax bills. But several full committees meet this week so the calendar’s size will only increase unless floor time is devoted to less controversial bills currently residing at the end of the second reading calendar.
Week 5 Review
House floor sessions consumed 6 hours, 19 minutes. The House held three floor sessions, passed seven bills, several road naming concurrent resolutions, and many congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the House last week included:
H.3477 (unemployment benefits)
H.4755 (JMSC reform)
H.5006 (Small Business Tax Cut of 2026)
H.4188 (disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains)
H.4511 (probate court notice to creditors)
H.4586 (US Space Force designation)
H.4635 (gym contract renewals)
The House spent much of its floor time debating H.4755 (JMSC reform) and H.5006 (Small Business Tax Cut of 2026), as well as moving many bills to the contested calendar.
Senate floor sessions consumed 9 hours, 1 minute. The Senate held three floor sessions, passed three bills, one concurrent resolution, and several congratulatory and memorial resolutions. Legislation that passed the Senate last week included:
S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability)
S.695 (Safeguarding American Veterans' Benefits Act)
S.415 (kin-specific licensing standards) - Enrolled for ratification
S.921 (PSC elections)
The Senate spent much of its floor time on February 10 debating amendments to S.454 (charter school & authorizer accountability), then passing the bill as amended 42-0. It spent the rest of the week debating an amendment by Senator Sean Bennett to S.768 (increase homestead exemption). The debate was very substantive, but ultimately Sen. Bennett withdrew the amendment.
The first 2026 acts are now officially after Governor McMaster signed three pieces of legislation:
S.336 (establish judicial elections date)
S.779 (legislator in-district expense)
H.3431 (minors and social media)
The Board of Economic Advisors met on February 12 and did not make any changes to the revenue estimates for FY26 or FY27. The BEA noted that the revenue growth rate has slowed considerably more than was expected. The excess revenue (surplus) as of January year-to-date is the smallest it has been in the past five fiscal years - $90M. For the past four fiscal years, the January excess has been at least $388M.
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 and Means Committee
February 17, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
February 18, 1:30pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will begin deliberations on the FY27 budget. The committee will meet as many times as necessary to pass a budget. In 2025, there were three full committee meetings over two days that consumed 2 hours, 39 minutes of committee time.
Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees (8 budget hearings)
Natural Resources and Economic Development; February 17, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Criminal Justice; February 18, 8:45am; Agenda; Livestream
Health and Human Services; February 18, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Constitutional; February 18, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Transportation; February 18, 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
K-12 Education; February 19, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Higher Education; February 19, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Natural Resources and Economic Development; February 19, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Senate Meetings
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
February 17, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.867 (regulate data centers).
Senate Finance Committee
February 17, 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: S.97 (county treasurer qualifications), S.98 (county auditor qualifications), H.3858 (watercraft & outboard motor taxes), S.344 (Equine Advancement Act), S.853 (abandoned buildings tax credit), and S.420 (investment funds by political subdivisions).
Senate Judiciary Committee
February 17, 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four appointments and seven bills on the agenda: H.3556 (political party nominating contests), H.3557 (candidate filing), S.694 (Aiken County precincts), S.631 (limitations on sex offender residences), S.723 (CSAM), S.751 (prohibit sale of nitrous oxide to minors), and H.4129 (games of skill).
The four appointments are: Cindy Crick, Solicitor for the 13th Judicial Circuit, and three nominees to the Workers’ Compensation Commission: Thomas Scott Beck, John Gabriel Coggiola, and Aisha K. Taylor. All three are current commissioners and Commissioner Beck is the WCC Chair.
Senate LCI Labor & Commerce Subcommittee
February 18, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.444 (interactive sports wagering).
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 18, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.199 (Student Physical Privacy Act).
Senate FVS Child Welfare Subcommittee
February 18, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.540 (definition of child abuse).
Senate Banking & Insurance Subcommittee
February 18, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.830 (auto insurance & nonprofit members) and S.851 (financial exploitation).
Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
February 18, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The committee will receive three presentations regarding the state of South Carolina’s forestry industry.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
February 18, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived consumables).
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 18, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.711 (school crossing guards), H.3578 (cursive writing grades 3-5), and H.3831 (AED mandate).
Senate Transportation Subcommittee
February 18, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.831 (SCDOT modernization). This is the fifth hearing on this legislation.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
February 18, 12pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.3924 (regulate hemp-derived consumables).
Senate Corrections & Penology Subcommittee
February 19, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.385 (Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act).
Senate Medical Affairs Committee
February 19, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four appointments and six bills on the agenda: S.819 (tuberculosis testing in nursing homes), S.343 (COVID-19 vaccine informed consent), H.3223 (veterinarian telehealth), H.3254 (permanent medical licenses), H.4342 (restricted dentistry instructor license), and H.4343 (human trafficking awareness & prevention training for medical professionals). The four appointments are to four different LLR boards.
Senate Education Subcommittee
February 19, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.692 (ESTF cleanup bill).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
February 19, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: S.902 (Data Center Siting Act), S.175 (Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction Act), S.808 (interference with workers providing critical services), and S.829 (joint authority water and sewer system governance).
Senate LCI Regulatory and Local Government Subcommittee
February 19, 10am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda and two LLR regulations: S.715 (solicitation of charitable funds).
House Meetings
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
February 17, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4564 (Impeachment Inquiry) and H.5133 (create Circuit Solicitors Qualifications Commission). Four members of the House Freedom Caucus filed H.4564, a House resolution directing the House Judiciary Committee to conduct an impeachment inquiry into Fifth Solicitor Bryon Gipson. This resolution is not a set of articles of impeachment.
House Education and Public Works Committee
February 17, 10:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.4739 (college student safety training) and H.4163 (SC High School Athletic Association Act).
House Agriculture Committee
February 17, 1 hour upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.5096 (ban artificial/cell-cultivated food products), H.5097 (roadside markets), S.337 (blue catfish), and S.383 (official state migratory bird).
House LCI Real Estate Subcommittee
February 17, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.5140 (notarial fee increase).
House Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee
February 17, 3pm; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.4764 (287(g) immigration agreements).
House LCI Banking & Insurance Subcommittee
February 18, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.5162 (financial exploitation), H.3227 (mandated offer of earthquake insurance), and H.3257 (genetic protections & insurance policies).
House 3M Municipal and Public Affairs Subcommittee
February 19, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.4050 (local government concurrency programs).
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
February 19, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are eight bills on the agenda: H.4709 (Buy American Iron and Steel Act), H.4730 (billboard structure repairs), H.4752 (remove barber apprenticeship requirement), S.583 (funeral directors continuing education), H.5140 (notarial fee increase), H.5162 (financial exploitation), H.3227 (mandated offer of earthquake insurance), and H.3257 (genetic protections & insurance policies).
House EPW Motor Vehicles and Public Safety Subcommittee
February 19, 9am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: H.5131 (tribal governments license plates), H.4688 (golf cart seatbelts & golf courses), and S.585 (Safeguarding American Families Everywhere (SAFE) Act).
House Judiciary Committee
February 19, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The full committee will consider a motion adopted by the House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee. The subcommittee adopted a motion to retain outside counsel to regarding the authority of the House of Representatives to impeach a solicitor, as well as delegate discovery and investigative authority to outside counsel. This was after nearly 90 minutes of debate about H.4564 (Impeachment Inquiry). Four members of the House Freedom Caucus filed H.4564, a House resolution directing the House Judiciary Committee to conduct an impeachment inquiry into Fifth Solicitor Bryon Gipson.
House Education and Public Works Committee
February 19, 9:30am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.5205 (college student safety training). Earlier in the week, H.4739 (college student safety training) was carried over in full committee. H.5205 is a new version of the same policy H.4739 sought to address.
Joint Meetings
College and University Trustee Screening Commission
March 2, 11am; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The commission will screen 27 candidates seeking 23 seats on five higher education institution boards and the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School.
College and University Trustee Screening Commission
March 5, Upon Adjournment; Agenda; Livestream
Summary: The commission will screen 17 candidates seeking eight seats on four higher education institution boards.
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
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
