It's Thursday, Jan. 15.
There are 52 days left of the 2026 legislative session.
This is the 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.
Help wanted, prayers required: The House is in the market for a new chaplain after longtime Chaplain Charles Seastrunk submitted his resignation last fall, which House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, said he regretfully accepted. Seastrunk had served as chaplain, a position elected by House members, for more than two decades. The chamber will hold an election for a replacement on Jan. 21.
Mark your calendar: Speaking of the House, it was only Day 2, but we have an idea on when the lower chamber plans to take some time off. Speaker Smith announced that, like previous years, the House plans to take its "spring break" the week of April 6-10. He said Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, and others have also requested a furlough the week of March 16, just after the House plans to wrap up debate on the budget. Smith offered to collect any member objections to this schedule, while also adding that he'll see how bills progress. Given it's the last year of a two-year session, more than one week off can significantly narrow the calendar but it can also give House members, all up for reelection in November, a chance to get back to their districts. As far as the Senate? We'll get back to you.
And Gov. Henry McMaster will address the joint assembly for his final State of the State on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Notebook highlights:
- From balanced budgets, to overriding a governor's veto, a recap of what the House and Senate did on Day 2 and what's on tap for Thursday.
- Another state lawmaker declares they won't run for reelection in November
- Former GOP lawmaker RJ May sentenced to prison
- Quote(s) of the day (there were some good ones)
House on abortion, Senate sends message to Congress
If you're familiar with Wednesdays in the South Carolina Legislature, then you know it's the busiest day of the week.
Typically, it means long days on the chamber floors.
In Day 2's case, it meant stacked committee hearings on nearly every hot topic you could possibly conjure up for lawmakers.
Here's a recap:
- Abortion: It was another day of long lines snaked around the House Blatt building for a hearing over two bills related to further restricting abortion access. The first, H.4760, filed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Weston Newton, R-Beaufort, advanced to the full committee. The bill would toughen penalties for anyone who obtains abortion-inducing drugs, like mifepristone or misoprostol, without a prescription. A person convicted of violating the proposed change would be guilty of a felony and face up to five years in prison or/and fined no more than $500. It's already illegal in South Carolina for telehealth abortions. State public health data shows that of 3,025 abortions done in 2024, medication abortions totaled 2,252. Newton told us they're still working on scheduling a full committee hearing on the bill. Meanwhile, a bill — H.3537 — filed by Rep. Rob Harris, R-Spartanburg, that would outlaw abortions (South Carolina has a six-week ban on the books) did not advance and it's unclear, and also unlikely, the bill will get another hearing any time soon. The bill would classify an abortion as an unlawful homicide, and would strip out abortion exceptions, which many Republicans in both chambers have not been interested in supporting. Harris has filed the bill before and it's gone nowhere. Another restrictive abortion bill failed to advance out of a Senate subcommittee late last year, raising a question of whether any abortion ban bill more restrictive than six weeks could advance.
- Income taxes: More spending-related bills are heading to the full Senate Finance Committee. The first — H. 4216, authored by Ways and Means Chair Bannister — would flatten the state's 6% top income tax rate to 5.39% for income above $30,000. For income below, the rate would go to 1.99%. Most taxpayers pay no income tax, so the idea from legislators is that everyone pays something. But the greater goal of the bill, should state revenues grow so much every year, would be to phase out the tax completely. As we've reported previously, tax changes are a priority for both chambers but the House took the lead on income tax, which makes up a significant revenue source for the state budget. On the same track, we reported yesterday a homestead exemption expansion filed by Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, will be heard by the full committee.
- In-district pay: All 170 legislators may get some monetary relief back this year, as the Senate takes the first stab at a bill to restore the $1,000-a-month allowance for lawmakers' in-district expenses. The bill filed by Senate GOP Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield — S. 779 — would restore the amount that lawmakers lost last year after the state Supreme Court ruled an attempted raise to $2,500 unconstitutional. Democrats are on board, including Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, who is a cosponsor.
- Balanced budget amendment: By voice vote, the Senate sent back to the House their bill — H.3007 — that would support a convention of states to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Around 27 states have done so. Among the three who voted against the adoption included Sen. Tom Corbin, R-Greenville, who expressed concerns about a runaway constitutional convention. Massey said a change would still require 38 states to ratify.
- Veto override: The House followed the Senate and voted unanimously to override Gov. Henry McMaster's veto on S. 136, filed by Sen. Deon Tedder, D-Charleston, which requires the state to dismiss pending charges against a person for the unlawful possession of a gun, if the offense was covered by the state's so-called constitutional carry law.
What's on tap for Day 3:
Thursdays are generally "light days" on the floor, but expect some more clearing of the calendars in both chambers to make way for heavier pieces of legislation, especially in the Senate.
- Return of roads: The House's SCDOT modernization ad hoc committee will regroup at 9 a.m. to keep working on a plan on policy and spending changes for infrastructure. Senate Transportation Chairman Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, has his own DOT modernization bill dropping next week.
Another lawmakers won't run in 2026
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, a Richland Democrat elected to the House in 2020, is the latest legislator to announce that they won't run for reelection this year.
In a press release, Johnson said he'll instead turn his focus to his race for governor full time after conversations with his family and community members.
“I care deeply about my district, and I will continue to work every day to represent the people with the same passion and urgency I’ve brought since Day 1," Johnson said.
This month, state Rep. Spencer Wetmore, D-Charleston, announced she also will not run for reelection. And House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, will retire at the end of his term.
All 124 House members are up for reelection in November.
RJ May's final day in court
A federal judge sentenced former Republican South Carolina lawmaker RJ May to 17.5 years in prison on Wednesday, closing an ugly episode for the Statehouse.
Federal Judge Cameron Currie followed 39-year-old May's sentence with a lengthy supervision, and ordered him to pay $58,500 in restitution to eight victims who submitted requests.
May, who helped launch the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus while in office and was the group's vice chair, pleaded guilty in September to five counts of distributing child sex abuse material.
Federal prosecutors had asked for a 20-year prison sentence.
May had asked the court to lower his sentence significantly to 60 months, or five years, followed by a significant period of home confinement with conditions.
An emotional May told the court Wednesday that he took responsibility for his crimes, acknowledging he lived a double life.
“I was talking about moral decency by day and succumbed to moral indecency by night,” May said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott Daniels said the videos were some of the worst he'd seen.
“We're talking about toddlers being raped,” he said.
Of all people, May, as a legislator, should have known better, he added.
Quote(s) of the day
- "Mr. King you need prayers, not given prayers," House Speaker Murrell Smith said to Rep. John King as Smith invited legislators to give the opening prayer each day of session.
- "This is dealing with the balanced budget amendment? That is what we’re on, correct?" asked Sen. Tom Corbin.
"You’re on top of it senator," Sen. Shane Massey said.
"Well, that’s rare," Corbin replied. - "Like Mark Antony to said to Cleopatra, 'I didn't really come here to talk,'" Gov. Henry McMaster said at the South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce Business Speaks event.
Daily Statehouse planner (1/15)
SC House
- 9 a.m. — Blatt 110 — SCDOT Modernization Ad Hoc Committee
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Blatt 321 — Education and Administrative Subcommittee of House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 10 a.m. — House in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - After the House adjourns 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 209 — Family and Veterans' Services Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on S.695
Agenda
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 11 a.m. — Senate in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only
SC governor
- 11:30 a.m. — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette to speak at the Upstate Housing Market Forecast in Greenville
Statehouse clips from around the state
- SC GOP pushing law to restrict transgender students’ bathroom use at public schools, colleges (SC Daily Gazette)
- SC pulled in $9.1B from expanding businesses in 2025 (Post and Courier)
- SC inspector general to review Clemson relationship with Upstate housing developer (SC Daily Gazette)
- South Carolina bill mandating ICE agreements sparks debate & controversy (WCIV)
- Judge slams ex-SC Rep. RJ May with prison term on child porn distribution charges (The State)
- Legislative committee moves bill restricting abortion drugs to House (Greenville News)
- Faith leaders oppose casino gambling legislation (WACH)
