December 2025

2025 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

From Animal Control to Waste Tires: County Officials Discuss Key Issues at Conference

SCAC wrapped up its conference season with an action-packed event earlier this month. 

County officials gathered in Greenville on Dec. 4-5 at the Legislative Conference to discuss the coming year’s legislative priorities.

The meeting also included updates on key issues such as rabies and local animal control ordinances and how the Act 33 changes in 2025 affect counties’ waste tire disposal management. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division shared updates on where the state is in the recovery process from several recent disasters including Hurricane Helene and the wildfires that affected Horry, Greenville and Pickens counties.

The Association’s Legislative Committee passed the 2026 Policy Positions, and the full document will be available soon. Watch your inbox and mailboxes!

Catch up on the conference by viewing presentations and browsing the photo gallery. 

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT

S.C. County Teams Cross Country to Assist Relief Efforts After Typhoon Halong in Alaska

Dorchester County Emergency Management Specialist Justin Newman was among South Carolina county personnel who traveled to Alaska to assist with typhoon rescue and recovery. (photo courtesy of Dorchester County)

Emergency Management staff from Charleston and Dorchester counties recently deployed to Alaska to assist with recovery and relief efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Halong.

"Our Emergency Management Specialist Justin Newman braved the cold and traveled all the way to Alaska to support communities across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, a region heavily impacted by the remnants of Typhoon Halong and the severe fall storms that followed," according to a statement from Dorchester County.

Charleston County also sent personnel to the area, including Emergency Management Deputy Director Ben Webster and Emergency Management Specialists Todd Shippey, Chase Miller and Owen Kutscher.

The affected area spanned 62,500 square miles—roughly twice the size of the state of South Carolina. Communities in the remote region are accessible only by aircraft, making providing aid even more challenging.

Representatives from Charleston and Dorchester counties oversaw operations centers and coordinated communication and aid distribution efforts to ensure residents had the items they needed to survive the artic winter conditions.

NEWS

SCAC Website Has Fresh New Look, Same Great Content and Resources

The South Carolina Association of Counties website has a new look!

The updated SCCounties.org was redesigned to include user-friendly features, easier navigation and visual elements to emphasize all the services the Association offers.

The depth of content is still the same, and the resources you know and love are still available.

Check out this video guide of the updated website and visit the new SCCounties.org today.

Applications for 2026 SCAC Scholarship Program Open to Seniors in 13 Counties

High school seniors in 13 counties have until Feb. 1, 2026, to apply for one-time college scholarships to be awarded in 2026.

Each year, SCAC's Presidential Scholarship Program awards one $5,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of the same county as the current SCAC President. The 2026 Presidential Scholarship will be awarded to a Chesterfield County student in honor of SCAC President and Chesterfield County Council Chairwoman Mary D. Anderson.

A graduating senior from each of the following 12 counties will be selected to receive a $5,000 Board of Directors' scholarship: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Jasper, Marlboro and McCormick.

Learn more about the program and how to apply.

Stay in the Know With the Friday Report

The General Assembly will be back in session in just a few weeks. Be sure to sign up for SCAC's Friday Report to get the latest updates on legislative actions that matter to you and your county.

Don't miss out! Sign up now and stay informed with the Friday Report, delivered straight to your inbox each week from January through May.

EVENTS

Save the Date for Counties Connect 2026

Counties Connect: A Legislative Action Day is set for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at the Pastides USC Alumni Center in downtown Columbia.

This event is an opportunity for county leaders to connect with their local delegation members to advocate for their counties. The program includes legislative briefings and a visit to the State House.

The day will conclude with a legislative reception at the Palmetto Club for another chance to engage with legislators.

Institute of Government classes will be offered in conjunction with the conference Thursday, Feb. 19.

Registration will open in January.

GRANT CENTRAL STATION

DHS Launches More Than $100 Million in Funding to Strengthen Cyber Defenses

The Department of Homeland Security, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agents (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has announced more than $100 million in cybersecurity grant funding is available to strengthen community cybersecurity.

The funding includes two separate grants: the Fiscal Year 2025 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP). The SLCGP makes $91.7 million available to state and local governments for a range of cybersecurity improvements, including plannings and exercises, hiring experts in the community and improving services for residents. The TCGP provides $12.1 million to tribal governments for similar uses. 

For more information and application resources, visit CISA's cyber grants page..

COUNTY EMPLOYMENT

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