Happy Wednesday.
This is The State House Gavel, a daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter that previews and captures what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse while lawmakers are in session.
Before we get into the details of the Statehouse session, congratulations are in order for state Rep. Micah Caskey.
The Lexington Republican and his wife, Kelsey, recently welcomed an 8.5-pound baby boy. Caskey's colleague, Rep. Rep. Gil Gatch, R-Dorchester, announced the news on the House floor Tuesday.
Caskey was granted leave for the day for the birth of his first child.
And quickly shifting to the 2026 governor's race: Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is considering running for higher office, was seen stepping into the House GOP Caucus meeting on Tuesday, a day after potential challenger U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace accused him from the House floor of failing to protect women victims, like herself. Wilson has defended his office. Lastly, South Carolina's former state treasurer, Thomas Ravenel, announced in a new X post that he will *not* run for governor, instead choosing to focus on his young family.
Notebook highlights:
- The House starts their energy debate, as Senate adds more committee work to their schedule.
- South Carolina's abortion ban is back in the news with a state Supreme Court hearing Wednesday morning.
- State Sen. Tom Davis calls on colleagues to back his efforts to restart construction on two nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site in Fairfield.

On the agenda: energy
The S.C. House gavels in at 10 a.m., and the Senate is at 1 p.m.
As we previously reported, the House has cleared its schedule to tackle its version of the energy capacity legislation, H. 3309.
And they've offered lobbyists, reporters and the public our pick from a 9 a.m. hearing buffet: Hungry for hemp-infused consumables? Thirsty for liquor liability? Maybe you're driven by direct car sales? Or you can save up for budget provisos (one-year laws)? Whatever your pleasure, there's a hearing for that.
Over in the Senate, senators carried over most of the legislation on their calendar Tuesday, leaving it on the table for Wednesday.
- S. 28, which would increase the length of time a sex offender remains on the registry, was debated and carried over.
- S. 35, a joint resolution to make the comptroller general an appointed position, which previously passed the chamber, was briefly discussed and also carried over.
- One bill did get key second vote Tuesday, S. 38, which would consolidate the number of special elections in any given year to five designated days, instead of seemingly every Tuesday as it is now.
The upper chamber has a host of hearings Wednesday morning and one in the afternoon, like:
- 8:45 a.m. Senate Finance subcommittee hearing on the departments of corrections; probation, parole and pardon services and juvenile justice.
- 10 a.m. full Senate Education Committee hearing on debit card lottery purchases, school board meeting streams and work experience credit for teachers.
- When the Senate adjourns, a hearing on S. 157, the chamber's storm recovery bill.
One meeting no longer on the agenda?
The 10 a.m. Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on S. 244, also the comprehensive tort reform legislation that has become quite the conversation on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The schedule shows that the meeting has been postponed.
Could be due to scheduling conflicts.
Either way, the topic itself is all over social media, from the Gov. Henry McMaster's account to ... Donald Trump Junior?
Our laws should protect victims and promote prosperity. The current system unduly penalizes individuals and businesses for the actions of others. I ask the General Assembly to pass commonsense tort reform so I can sign it into law the minute it reaches my desk. https://t.co/5dR2m9LZp2
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) February 11, 2025
SC's abortion ban back in the courts
South Carolina's debate over six-week abortion restrictions is back before the state Supreme Court Wednesday morning.
Justices will hear arguments from Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which filed suit against South Carolina officials on when exactly a fetal heartbeat is detected and thus when an abortion should be prohibited in the state.
The Cleveland Clinic says that a fetus’ heartbeat isn’t typically detected until around week nine using Doppler ultrasound — a time period that Planned Parenthood South Atlantic is making central to its argument before the court as it challenges the state's so-called "fetal heartbeat" bill, which bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected.
The organization says clarity is needed “to assuage provider confusion and safeguard” doctors providing medical care under the strict abortion law.
How to watch: SCETV streams all Supreme Court hearings
What time: 10:30 a.m.
Reminder: This case is separate from the U.S. Supreme Court case that will be heard April 2 over whether the state can refuse Medicaid coverage for non-abortion-related health care services at the state's three Planned Parenthood clinics.

SC senator pushes nuclear revival
Beaufort Republican Sen. Tom Davis kicked the legislative day off on Tuesday by calling on his colleagues to show support for the joint resolution backing state utility Santee Cooper’s request for proposals for interested parties looking to restart construction of V.C. Summer nuclear reactors 2 and 3.
Davis, chair of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, said state Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey told him 17 entities were looking into investing money to complete due diligence on the projects.
“We have 40% of one reactor done, 20% of the other, all in good condition,” Davis said. “We have detailed blueprints on how to complete the AP 1000s (reactors) because Georgia just did it. Georgia is about to build a new one. We have a window of opportunity here, but we have to act with urgency.”
So far, 37 of 46 senators have signed on to Davis's S. 51.
It currently sits in committee.

Daily planner (2/12)
SC House
- 9 a.m. — Blatt 403 — Business and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
- Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Blatt 108 — Education and Administrative Subcommittee of House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Blatt 516 — Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee on H.3497
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Blatt 515 — Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee on H.3650 and H.3924
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Blatt 521 — Proviso Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 10 a.m. — House in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only
SC Senate
- 8:45 a.m. — Gressette 207 — Finance Criminal Justice Subcommittee Budget Hearing
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Gressette 209 — L.C.I. Special Subcommittee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 10 a.m. — Gressette 308 — Judiciary Subcommittee on S.156, S.159 and S.183
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 10 a.m. — Gressette 105 — Senate Education Full Committee on S.77, S.78 and S.169
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 10 a.m. — Gressette 209 — Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 11 a.m. — Gressette 207 — Legislative Oversight Subcommittee on SCOR
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Noon — Gressette 207 — Finance Transportation and Regulatory Subcommittee Budget Hearing
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Noon — Gressette 209 — L.C.I. Professions and Occupations Subcommittee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 1 p.m. — Senate in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - When Senate adjourns — Gressette 105 — Judiciary Subcommittee on S.157
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only

Statehouse clips from around the state
- Nancy Mace says her victim tip line was flooded with calls. Advocates warn it could cause harm. (Post and Courier)
- Electric vehicle battery companies in SC among the latest to hit speed bumps (SC Daily Gazette)
- STEM event at Charleston all-girls private school canceled due to federal DEI ban (Post and Courier)
- Elon Musk’s DOGE targets U.S. Department of Education for millions in funding cuts (States Newsroom)
- Thomas Ravenel changes mind on South Carolina gubernatorial run (WCSC)