Today is the second Tuesday in January, which if you follow South Carolina's 130-year-old Constitution, you know that means it is the first day of South Carolina's legislative session.
Think of today as the second half kick-off of the two-year session.
And it's a big day. It just so happens that today is also the one-year birthday of The State House Gavel, your daily reporter notebook by Maayan Schechter and Gavin Jackson that previews and captures what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse.
It's quite clear, judging by the early meeting schedule and comments by lawmakers, that the offseason is over and leaders have plenty of significant pieces of legislation they want passed before session ends on May 14.
Keep in Mind: It's an election year for all constitutional officers, 124 members of the South Carolina House, and even a few senators who are running for higher office.
Notebook highlights:
- Gov. Henry McMaster releases his final budget as the veteran Republican politician starts his final year in office
- House and Senate GOP leaders lay out priorities (No, redistricting is not happening.)
Gov unveils final budget of tenure
It's been nearly a decade since Gov. Henry McMaster first pushed the Legislature to raise teacher pay above the Southeastern average.
Eight years ago, McMaster noted, starting teacher pay in the state was only above $30,000 — part of the root cause, but not the only reason, that teachers were fleeing the classroom and in 2019 walked out of school to protest low wages and bad working conditions.
For the final time, the governor will ask the Legislature to spend $150 million to raise the state's start pay for teachers to $50,500 — an ask the House speaker indicated his chamber will support.
The request is one of dozens of budget priorities proposed by the governor, who, unlike his immediate predecessors, has enjoyed a rather comfortable relationship with Statehouse leaders. Meaning, year after year, many of McMaster's budget priorities have been reflected in the final budget passed by lawmakers.
What else does the governor want?
- $1.1 billion (most of that one-time money) to help speed up road and interstate construction
- $107.2 million to cut the state's top income tax rate from 6% 5.9%
- $61.4 million to increase the number of students receiving vouchers to 20,000
- Nearly $10 million to expand full-day 4K in private centers
- $8.7 million to offer all public school students free breakfast
- About $39 million to freeze in-state college and university tuition for another year
- $4 million for beach renourishment
- $115 million for a cancer hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina
- About $34 million to cover federal changes in match requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits
- $5 million for maternal and child health home visits
- $58 million for public land preservation
- $45.5 million for a $2,000 nonrefundable individual income tax credit for anyone employed as sworn law enforcement officer, firefighter and emergency medical technician
- $4.7 million for 30 more BPS officers and dispatchers at the Statehouse and Governor's Mansion
Additionally, McMaster also wants the General Assembly to attach a proviso (one-year law) to the budget that requires the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office to start efforts on a comprehensive study looking at how the state's population surge will affect roads and government services over the next 10 and 20 years.
The governor's staff said the study will look at the impact of the population growth — economists expect it to hit 6.6 million people by 2040 — on health care, higher education, energy, water supply and gaps as the population also trends older.
"You can't plan for things if you don't know what you're planning for," McMaster said. "The old saying, if you can't measure it, you can't manage it."
What McMaster's proposal doesn't cover?
Across-the-board pay raises for all state employees. The governor said he prefers state agencies to make that decision.
It's the final year McMaster will get to make his imprint on South Carolina since ascending to the job in 2017 when then-Gov. Nikki Haley stepped down to join the Trump administration.
McMaster will deliver his final State of the State to the Legislature later this month.
GOP priorities include taxes, roads, DUI and charters
We already have a sense of what to expect this session.
Recall: Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers. There are 34 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the Senate. And there are 88 Republicans and 36 Democrats in the House.
Let's start with the Senate priorities.
Senate leadership told reporters earlier this month that bills to strengthen the state's DUI laws and accountability measures for charter schools and its authorizers will be first on the floor debate priority list.
"I expect there's going to be some conversation about it, there's going to be some fights, because there are a lot of loopholes built in our existing law, which is one of the problems we have to fix," Senate GOP Leader Shane Massey of Edgefield told This Week in South Carolina host Gavin Jackson about the DUI changes. "I expect we're going to have some fights on that. We're ready for it."
Massey also said the upper chamber will tackle regulatory reform. Lawmakers have said the state has too many regulations, and have sought to chip away at rules they say can slow down economic growth.
What about the income tax bill passed by the House?
It's a bit unclear, because Senate leaders have said repeatedly that the debate needs to be about more than just income taxes.
Just ask Dorchester GOP Sen. Sean Bennett.
Senate President Thomas Alexander of Oconee said he expects "something" to be taken up this year. But where it falls on the calendar, Alexander couldn't say.
Will the Senate further restrict abortion access?
Both chambers' leaders are looking to move bills that restrict abortion-inducing medication by mail.
As far as moving the state's six-week ban to zero, that road looks rockier. Late last year, a Republican-dominated Medical Affairs subcommittee rejected a bill pushed by Sen. Richard Cash to do just that.
And its unclear whether the Medical Affairs Committee will seek to entertain that legislation or a similar bill this year.
Will lawmakers remove themselves from the JMSC?
Republican Sen. Mike Johnson of York County, a proponent of legislation to give the governor full appointment power over the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, the screening body for judicial candidates, says he'd like to get a debate on the bill.
The change would certainly be an easier lift than removing the Legislature from the judicial election process altogether, which would require changing the state Constitution.
The House also has a bill to make the change, with dozens of House Republicans, including Speaker Murrell Smith, as sponsors.
Will lawmakers give themselves in-district pay?
Possibly. Many certainly want to.
Last year, lawmakers used the budget to pass an increase to their "in-district pay," monthly allocations meant to cover district expenses, from $1,500 to $2,500 total.
Sen. Wes Climer, R-York, sued the Legislature to block the increase and the state Supreme Court agreed, except they eliminated in-district pay entirely. It's safe to say that Climer, who is running for Congress in the 5th District seat being vacated by gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ralph Norman, was not on very many lawmakers' Christmas card lists.
Massey said their is a plan is to restore the $1,000 in district allocation previously paid out to lawmakers though his preference, he said, would be through standalone legislation.
Will earmarks come back?
Alexander said the Senate will look to Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, for guidance, acknowledging community needs.
What about redistricting?
Despite the chatter, both Senate and House leaders say it's not happening.
"I think we've done our job. I'm not opposed to having more Republicans. I am opposed to having fewer," Massey said, noting a redraw could wind up making some Republican districts more competitive.
House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, agreed.
You can watch Senate leaders on TWISC:
Now onto the House.
Speaker Smith says he plans to focus on three core areas this session: taxes and tax reduction, infrastructure and public safety, particularly around juvenile crime.
Let's spend some time on roads — because the House has.
A House panel met several times in the off session, gathering testimony and starting the process to craft policy to streamline the state transportation department as the agency seeks to improve infrastructure amid the state’s record growth.
“We’re proposing to cut unnecessary regulations by 30%, and we will continue to proactively streamline our operations,” SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell said in his January address.
The panel, chaired by Republican Reps. Shannon Erickson of Beaufort and Heather Crawford of Horry, is expected to release a policy and spending plan this week.
Smith told the SC Lede podcast last week he created the panel to tackle rural road safety and congestion — a top complaint from drivers.
What could be in the plan?
Fewer regulations, possible preferred-choice lanes and toll roads and a raise to the state's electric car registration fee, what is the lowest in the region.
“We have to realize that sooner or later gas-combustible cars are getting more fuel efficient, more people are buying EVs so were going to have to find some ways, outside of the gas tax, to fund the infrastructure,” Smith said.
Beyond infrastructure — a big budget priority — Smith said the House budget plan will have a heavy emphasis on public safety and education.
Smith said the House, which writes the first draft of the budget every year, will include McMaster's final ask to raise starting teacher pay to $50,500.
One budget conundrum?
Filling federal government holes.
Smith told the SC Lede, however, that's not the job of the General Assembly.
It's an "impossible task," Smith said. "... I don't think there's enough money in the entire budget to backfill those."
Daily Statehouse planner (1/13)
SC House
- Noon — House in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 1 hour after adjournment — Blatt 110 — SCDOT Modernization Ad Hoc Committee
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Call of the chair — Blatt 521 — Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 2 hours after adjournment or call of the chair — Blatt 215 — Constitutional Subcommittee Meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only
SC Senate
- 10 a.m. — Gressette 105 — Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on 52, 192
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Noon — Senate in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 30 minutes after adjournment — Gressette 308 — Finance Property Tax Subcommittee
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 2 p.m. or 1 hour after adjournment — Gressette 105 — Full Judiciary Committee on 52, 192
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only
Meet your Gavel authors
Allow us to reintroduce ourselves.
I'm Maayan Schechter, Statehouse reporter and author of The State House Gavel co-bylined with reporter Gavin Jackson, host of the SC Lede podcast and This Week in South Carolina, a public affairs television program that airs every Friday night.
Enough about the Statehouse for one second. Get to know us:
How long have we been covering the Legislature?
Maayan: I moved to South Carolina after college in 2013, and covered the Statehouse from a local level. But I started covering the Legislature full time in 2017.
Gavin: Officially started full time ahead of the 2016 legislative session.
Either of you from South Carolina?
Nope, but we've both put down roots in the state with no plans to leave.
Maayan is an Atlanta native, who's lived in South Carolina since 2013.
And Gavin hails from Silver Spring, Maryland. He moved to South Carolina in 2011.
Best place to be (besides the Capitol of course):
Maayan: Anywhere that is outside and away from my phone. I've been spending more time at the redeveloped Finlay Park.
Gavin: Hiking the canal and nearby state parks and grabbing a drink at Bierkeller.
What book and/or show are you watching right now?
Maayan: Watching Downton Abby, never saw it when it came out. And I have about five books sitting next to the bed waiting to be read. But I started Tom Johnson's autobiography. He's the former CNN president, worked for President Lyndon B. Johnson and is one of the journalism greats.
Gavin: I'm reading this book "Wool," which is the inspiration for Silo on TV. I did just recently finish Severance, which I recommend.
What are you watching this legislative session?
Maayan: Gov. Henry McMaster's final year, an end of a real political era in South Carolina, and how the issue of growth intertwines with policy and politics.
Gavin: Ditto. Also, the governor's race specifically and how that election and House elections will influence action in the Statehouse.
Statehouse clips from around the state
- South Carolina's annual human trafficking report reveals 2025 state numbers (SC Public Radio)
- SC students booted from K-12 voucher program spent $64K. The problem didn’t repeat, report says (SC Daily Gazette)
- Republican confirmed winner in special election for Dorchester County Statehouse seat after recount (Post and Courier)
- In SC, 16-year-olds can get married. A bill would allow only adults to wed. (SC Daily Gazette)
- South Carolina lawmakers seek to strengthen ‘Move Over’ law (WIS)
- Suit filed to stop massive data center near nationally renowned nature preserve in SC (The State)
- Veteran Folly Beach Democrat announces she won’t run for state House seat re-election (Post and Courier)
- $2.3B more sought by SC colleges includes extraterrestrial request (SC Daily Gazette)
- SC’s Republican-dominated legislature enters election year 2026 session with unfinished business (Post and Courier)
- SC judge upholds order requiring wealthy landowner to tear down illegal seawall (The State)
- SCETV, radio on secure footing despite dissolution of federal broadcasting arm (Post and Courier)
- State education leaders seek $17.6 million to teach students about screen time and social media (WLTX)
- SC election officials threatened with legal action if they comply with Trump DOJ voter-roll deal (Post and Courier)
- Candidates for SC governor raise millions of dollars (WIS)
- SC State University flag to fly from Statehouse during King Day at the Dome (SC Daily Gazette)
