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The State House Gavel shares updates about the South Carolina General Assembly, including legislative actions, debates and discussions. Featuring news and interviews, so you have access to the latest developments in policy and decisions that shape South Carolina’s future.

The State House Gavel: SC Senate gets a new portrait, 2026 gov race heats up

Former S.C. Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, stands next to his Senate portrait unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in the Statehouse Senate chambers in Columbia, S.C.
MAAYAN SCHECHTER
Former S.C. Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, stands next to his Senate portrait unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in the Statehouse Senate chambers in Columbia, S.C.

Statehouse reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter are back at the Capitol reporting what you need to know when lawmakers are in Columbia. They'll post news, important schedules, photos/videos and behind-the-scenes interviews with policymakers.

It's Thursday.

Snow and ice upended most legislative hearings Wednesday, and we've already seen a couple of cancellations for Thursday due to the residual conditions.

As we reported already, the Legislature never intended this week to be filled with floor debates, only legislative hearings.

But a couple of days worth of cancellations could compress the time lawmakers have to accomplish the long list of major priorities both chambers talked up prior to the year. The length of the 2025 session calendar is only 48 legislative days. And House leaders say they will take the week of April 14 off and possibly take another week off after the chamber passes its version of the budget in mid-March.

The Senate may take a furlough too at some point. And, remember, they're still debating Senate Education Chairman Greg Hembree's private school voucher bill on the Senate floor that won't likely wrap up until next week.

So expect more committee hearings into next week, and perhaps less floor time for both chambers.

This is The State House Gavel, a new daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin JacksonRuss McKinney and Maayan Schechter that will preview and capture what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse this year while lawmakers are in session.

Notebook highlights:

  • The cost of caring for South Carolinians, especially those with mental health issues, is growing as the state continues to reel from a bed and doctor shortage. State agencies responsible are asking lawmakers for millions to help.
  • DC is busy with a new White House and Congress. South Carolina's delegation is stepping up. And the 2026 governor's race chatter begins after one contender openly flirts with the idea of running.
  • A portrait was unveiled for veteran former SC Sen. Nikki Setzler, who served in the Senate for 48 years and became the longest-serving state senator in the country.
The S.C. Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.
MAAYAN SCHECHTER
The S.C. Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.

Health agencies grapple with growing costs, demand

South Carolina headlines typically get written about the debate of the day, something eyebrow-raising a lawmaker says or maybe a startling accounting error that leads to a federal investigation.

But there are plenty of issues that you may not know about.

And those issues may be even greater causes of concern.

On Wednesday, Robert Bank, the acting director of the state's mental health department, outlined the agency's budget request for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

For background: South Carolina's budget primarily gets divvied up into two areas: health care and K-12 educated-related costs.
And those costs, due to the state's population and inflation, are going up.

Take DMH, an agency that provides services to more than 100,000 people, 32,000 of whom are children. The department serves all 46 counties, runs a nursing home and has 16 community health centers.

South Carolina has a bed shortage, and referrals and the waiting list are going up, according to the agency.

The department is asking lawmakers to spend more than $13.7 million as DMH records more referrals and operational costs up over 20% for state-mandated programs (meaning the agency cannot, by law, refuse to provide service).

For its sexually violent predator program, another state mandate, the agency needs $2 million every year.

DMH is also asking for $4.5 million for a statewide alternative transportation program that uses privately contracted services and reduces the number of mental health patients, who are not violent and a risk, from being transported by law enforcement.

For capital needs, DMH is asking for more than $10 million.

The eyebrow-raising headlines do a good job capturing readers.

But pay attention to the budget.

Not only is it the one mandated piece of legislation lawmakers must pass every year (if they don't pass a continuing resolution) but it's also where taxpayers can better understand the state's priorities.

What's next: The House starts the budget-writing process every year. Hearings are underway in the House Ways and Means Committee run by Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville. The House will pass it, send it to the Senate Finance Committee run by Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, before it heads for a vote and negotiations by both chambers.

A copy of the South Carolina House's 2024-25 budget sits on the desk of a member on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)
Jeffrey Collins/AP
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AP
A copy of the South Carolina House's 2024-25 budget sits on the desk of a member on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

More cash needed to investigate $1.8B

Speaking of taxpayer dollars, though most of the $1.8 billion is not real money, the $3 million spent to fund the outside audit by AlixPartners and the $4 million to hire outside counsel for the SC Attorney General's Office to deal with a federal US Securities and Exchange Commission investigation and other expenses are in fact very real.

Now, Berkeley Republican Sen. Larry Grooms says on SCETV's This Week in South Carolina with Gavin Jackson that more money is needed for the SEC investigation.

What Grooms is saying: “Our attorney general has now expended $4 million in defense of our state in regard to the Securities and Exchange Commission investigation and has now requested an additional $5.5 million for continued legal defense There are additional fees, other than what the attorney general has expended from the various agencies that they're taking a look at.” 

The SEC needs to determine if the original $3.5 billion accounting error boondoggle (that's what led us here) was simply an error as has been claimed, or if there was evidence of something more.

More Grooms: “Our credit rating is under the gun. The forensic auditors came in and they gave us some specific recommendations to do: one to correct the mistakes that are there, and another suggesting that we do our state auditing differently. But, more immediate, they recommended that we hire a third-party, independent financial overseer, a compliance firm, to take a look at all the transactions that the treasurer is engaged in right now and how that's reported to the Comptroller General to ensure that it's being don in a way that others can have confidence that it's correct.”

As previously reported, the initial $3.5 billion error led to the resignation of then-Comptroller Richard Eckstrom (the state's chief accountant). Now the harsh spotlight has fallen on State Auditor George Kennedy and Republican Treasurer Curtis Loftis, who Grooms has called on to resign. Loftis denies any fault in the matter.

Catch Grooms' full interview at 7:30 p.m. Friday on SCETV.

FILE — SCETV This Week in South Carolina host Gavin Jackson interviews S.C. Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, in Columbia, S.C., on April 24, 2024. Grooms returns to TWISC at 7:30 p.m. Friday on SCETV.
SCETV
FILE — SCETV This Week in South Carolina host Gavin Jackson interviews S.C. Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, in Columbia, S.C., on April 24, 2024. Grooms returns to TWISC at 7:30 p.m. Friday on SCETV.

Nancy Mace eyes the gov race

Since Columbia was frozen, we look briefly to DC for action.

  • 4th District Republican Congressman William Timmons was named to Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Oversight subcommittee for Delivering on Government Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE. The panel will “strive to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement within federal agencies,” according to Greene. 
  • US Sen. Tim Scott appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box to chat about the Senate Banking Committee he now chairs and its priorities. No. 1, he says, “We want a responsible level of regulations, not an oppressive level of regulations.” No. 2, capital formation and No. 3 homeownership.
  • A full US Senate vote on Charlestonian Scott Bessent’s confirmation as Treasury secretary is forthcoming after his nomination was advanced by a 16-11 vote Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee.  
  • US Sen. Lindsey Graham gaveled in his first Budget Committee hearing as chairman and told members, "Be hard, be challenging, don't make a complete ass of yourself and let's get through this thing," during OMB head Russell Vought's confirmation hearing.  
  • South Carolina's Ed McMullen, President Donald Trump’s first-term ambassador to Switzerland, is back at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he told Bloomberg Wednesday that there is great optimism among business leaders, despite tariff threats. “The terms are very clear: if you have reciprocity and if you’re willing to trade without tariffs on our country, then you’ll be in a good position to have a conversation and an agreement. There are no surprises here. The president has not changed his view on tariffs, and they all (trading partners) survived very well when they came to the table and negotiated.” 
  • And 1st District Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace tells the Associated Press’ Meg Kinnard, “We are seriously considering a statewide run for governor in 2026."

Background on Mace: The 47-year-old Citadel graduate (and first woman to do so) is a former SC House lawmaker, who won her state House seat in a special election and only served one two-year term before running for Congress. She's recently garnered headlines for her rhetoric and legislative actions targeting the transgender community.

What's next in the governor's race: No candidate has officially jumped in the race, on either the Democratic or Republican side. But names are certainly floating around beyond Mace, including Gov. Henry McMaster's Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson.

FILE - Rep. Nancy Mace, walks to join other members of the House Oversight Committee, Dec. 13, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. Three Republican incumbent U.S. House members in South Carolina are facing primary challengers in 2024, including Mace, who is seeking a third term with the backing of Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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AP
FILE - Rep. Nancy Mace, walks to join other members of the House Oversight Committee, Dec. 13, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

A new portrait for the upper chamber

What event brings out USC's women's basketball coach Dawn Staley, former SC Gov. Jim Hodges, the former SC Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, USC's former athletic director Ray Tanner, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott to the SC Senate?

Longtime former state Sen. Nikki Setzler's portrait unveiling.

On Wednesday, dozens watched as Setzler showed off his new Senate portrait that will hang high in the Senate chamber, directly next to Senate Budget Chairman Harvey Peeler.

The portrait shows Setzler, D-Lexington, in a crisp, blue suit and light blue tie, standing outside the Statehouse on the balcony.

His suit includes a pen in the pocket, his Senate pin and he's wearing braided bracelets made for him by his grandchildren.

"We worked side by side for 44 years, and now our portraits will be side by side for generations," Peeler said.

Catch the ceremony in its entirety here.

ICYMI: Listen to Setzler's full remarks.

Former SC Sen. Nikki Setzler's remarks at portrait unveiling in Senate 1.22.25

Daily planner (1/23)

SC House

SC Senate

SC governor

  • 10 a.m. — Statehouse — Gov. McMaster will make a Cabinet agency announcement
Gov. Henry McMaster gives his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C.
Meg Kinnard/AP
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AP
Gov. Henry McMaster gives his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C.

Statehouse clips from around the state

With SC's finances under SEC investigation, lawmakers seek financial 'babysitter' (The State)
Santee Cooper to seek buyers for abandoned nuclear reactors at VC Summer (Post and Courier)
Ex-school board member wins primary election for SC House (SC Daily Gazette)
SC Governor’s Office defends decision to keep all state offices in Richland, Lexington counties open during winter weather (WIS)
New SC bill would hold businesses, individuals accountable for overserving alcohol (WSPA)

Maayan Schechter (My-yahn Schek-ter) is a news reporter with South Carolina Public Radio and ETV. She worked at South Carolina newspapers for a decade, previously working as a reporter and then editor of The State’s S.C. State House and politics team, and as a reporter at the Aiken Standard and the Greenville News. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville in 2013.
Gavin Jackson graduated with a visual journalism degree from Kent State University in 2008 and has been in the news industry ever since. He has worked at newspapers in Ohio, Louisiana and most recently in South Carolina at the Florence Morning News and Charleston Post and Courier.
Russ McKinney has 30 years of experience in radio news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia and Atlanta. He served as Press Secretary to former S.C. Governor Dick Riley for two terms, and for 20 years was the chief public affairs officer for the University of South Carolina.