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The State House Gavel
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: What we're watching with 6 days left on the calendar

South Carolina Public Radio | By Maayan Schechter,
Russ McKinney, Gavin Jackson
Published April 29, 2025 at 6:01 AM EDT
Springtime at the South Carolina Statehouse.
Gavin Jackson/SCETV
Springtime at the South Carolina Statehouse.

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.

Happy Tuesday.

Welcome to Week 16 of the South Carolina legislative session.

There are six regular session days left on the General Assembly's calendar.

Sine die comes at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 8.

You're reading 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 this year while lawmakers are in session.

We're down to the penultimate week of the legislative session.

And what does that mean? As one Statehouse leader noted to us, insanity.

Schedules turn over by the hour. Some bills die (for the year) and some make it across the finish line in a phot finish. Legislation becomes like a tennis ball getting volleyed quickly between chambers. And there's no post-sine die conference committee work this year, except for the budget.

One important schedule reminder: The Legislature will hold a joint assembly at 11 a.m. Thursday to elect Public Service Commission members, who oversee state utility rates, for the following seats:

  • 2nd Congressional District for a term that expires June 30, 2026
  • 4th Congressional District for a term that expires June 30, 2026
  • 6th Congressional District for a term that expires on June 30, 2026

And one more thing: Bryan Stirling officially stepped down as director of the state corrections department, a role he's held for more than a decade, to become the U.S. attorney of South Carolina. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Stirling was sworn in Monday at a private ceremony. President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Stirling to fill the job permanently, pending Senate confirmation. Gov. Henry McMaster said Joel Anderson, SCDC's deputy director for operations, will serve as acting director.

Notebook highlights:

  • We break down what we're watching in the Senate, from a K-12 private school voucher bill to a vote whether to confirm Myra Reece for environmental services.
  • Will the House act on Treasurer Curtis Loftis's future? What else we're watching in the lower chamber this week, from tort reform/liquor liability to energy capacity.
Russ McKinney, Maayan Schechter and Gavin Jackson
SCETV
Russ McKinney, Maayan Schechter and Gavin Jackson

The Week 16 blueprint

Get ready for a dizzying week of legislating.

If you haven't taken a glance through this week's meeting schedule, Week 16 is all about the committee meeting. And any bill that fails to come out of a full committee this week and advanced to the floor is headed in the direction of getting punted to next year.

Remember: This is the first of a two-year session. Any bill that does not become law this year still has the opportunity to get to the governor's desk next year.

First, the big question: Where do bills dealing with tort reform/liquor liability and energy stand?

There are no finalized compromises at this point on either proposal, but Statehouse leaders in both chambers have said the two remain a top priority before they go home. Both sets of bills are back in the House. But, as we've mentioned plenty above, the window is narrowing.

Let's start with what we're watching in the Senate this week:

  • K-12 private school vouchers: Lacking a quorum, lawmakers last week delayed a vote over a bill — S. 62 — that would spend state budget dollars on tuition vouchers for children meeting certain poverty thresholds. The bill is the Legislature's second try after the state Supreme Court ruled a previous bill unconstitutional. In a negotiated compromise, the bill would install a third-party trustee to oversee the program — what one senator referred to as an insurance policy for the court.
  • Myra Reece: The Senate is poised to confirm Reece to lead the new Department of Environmental Services, what was part of the former Department of Health and Environmental Control. Reece has faced some criticism, but is expected to win confirmation.
  • Tuesday: Both full Judiciary and Finance committees meet at 12:15 p.m. The Judiciary Committee will take up in part legislation the disclosure of intimate photos, judicial seats and the so-called S.C. Expression Protection Act. The Finance Committee will decide whether to approve three bills that include a proposal that would give municipalities without a millage the ability to add one.
  • Wednesday: The Labor, Industry and Commerce Committee and the Medical Affairs, Education and Transportation committees all meet in full committee. Medical Affairs will also meet Thursday. A special Senate Family and Veterans’ Services Committee panel will discuss a bill — S. 383 — to name the Prothonotary Warbler the official state migratory bird of South Carolina.
The S.C. Senate in chambers in Columbia, S.C.
MAAYAN SCHECHTER
The S.C. Senate in chambers in Columbia, S.C.

What we're watching in the House:

  • Treasurer Curtis Loftis: After the Senate voted 33-8 to remove Loftis for "willful neglect of duty" over the $1.8 billion accounting error, the House has yet to formally announce their plans for the embattled state official. With the calendar pressure and a lack of consensus, all moves — or lack thereof — suggest the House may not act this session on Loftis's future.
  • Budget: The House gets its second crack at the state $14 billion-plus spending plan after the Senate made amendments. But we're not expecting action on the budget until next week, which will kick the bill to a conference committee before sine die. Lawmakers will return to finalize the budget later in May or June.
  • Tuesday: The full Agriculture, Judiciary and Education and Public Works committees will meet. The Ways and Means Revenue Policy Legislative Subcommittee will also meet on three wagering-related bills that includes legislation to open the door for a future casino off Interstate 95.
  • Wednesday: The full Labor, Industry and Commerce and Ways and Means committees will meet. The budget committee is expected to discuss an income tax plan proposal.
  • Thursday: The Insurance Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee meets to hear from Director Michael Wise about insurance rates.

Editor's Note: This is not an exhaustive list of important hearings and topics we're following. Schedules are updated daily.

MAAYAN SCHECHTER

Daily planner (2/29)

SC House

SC Senate

SC governor

  • 10:30 a.m. — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette to join the S.C. Chamber of Commerce for Small Business Day at the Capitol
  • 2 p.m. — Gov. Henry McMaster to join the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism recognizing National Travel and Tourism Week at the Governor’s Mansion
The S.C. Statehouse in Columbia, S.C.
MAAYAN SCHECHTER
The S.C. Statehouse in Columbia, S.C.

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Maayan Schechter
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.
See stories by Maayan Schechter
Russ McKinney
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.
See stories by Russ McKinney
Gavin Jackson
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.
See stories by Gavin Jackson