January 30, 2026

The General Assembly had a shortened week, with both chambers meeting only in perfunctory session on Tuesday due to weather conditions. On Wednesday, the Senate resumed floor debate on DUI reform legislation and adopted several amendments before carrying the bill over, keeping its status in the special-order slot on the Senate calendar. Meanwhile, the House considered legislation restricting bathroom access for transgender people in public schools and public institutions of higher education.

On Thursday, a House Ways & Means subcommittee passed a bill to provide business personal property tax relief for small businesses, and a Senate Transportation subcommittee continued its discussion on the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) modernization bill. The House Juvenile Crime Assessment and Strategy Reform Ad Hoc Committee met briefly Thursday afternoon to discuss potential language for several bills that SCAC anticipates being introduced in the coming weeks.

These and other bills of interest are detailed below.

Bills of Direct Interest to Counties

Revenue, Finance and Economic Development

Business Personal Property Tax

H. 5006 would enact the “State of South Carolina Small Business Tax Cut of 2026,” exempting the first $10,000 of business personal property tax for small businesses in South Carolina. The bill also would streamline the filing process by requiring that all returns for business personal property be filed with the Department of Revenue. This part of the bill is an SCAC policy position. For purposes of the bill, "small business" is defined as a commercial retail service, industry entity, or nonprofit corporation, including affiliates, that meet the following requirements:

SCAC Director of Governmental Affairs Owen McBride testifies on the business personal property tax bill and a bill on poll workers' pay at a House Ways and Means subcommittee meeting. 

• The business is owned by taxpayers who pay income taxes in South Carolina;
• The business is independently owned and operated;
• The business employs fewer than 100 full-time employees or has gross annual sales of less than $10 million dollars.

The bill also would exempt a portion of the corporate license fee for small businesses.

Status: A Ways and Means subcommittee gave H. 5006 a favorable report, and the bill will be on the next full committee agenda.

Land Use, Natural Resources and Transportation

University Campus Events Zoning

S. 832 would prevent a county or municipality from interfering with land use approvals for events held on the campus of a state-supported institution of higher learning based on zoning ordinances or land use classifications. However, the bill would not limit a county’s or municipality’s authority to enforce applicable safety laws.

Status: The bill received a favorable report from the Senate Family & Veterans’ Services Committee and is pending second reading on the Senate calendar.

Public Safety, Judicial and Corrections

Magistrates’ Reform Act

H. 3530 would require magistrate candidates to be reviewed by the Judicial Merit Selection Commission like other judicial candidates and to hold a Juris Doctor degree. The Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment to grandfather in current non-attorney magistrates.

Status: The House Judiciary Committee gave H. 3530 a favorable report as amended, and the bill is pending second reading on the House calendar.

Magistrate Court Fees and Costs

H. 4813 would increase the fines and fees collected in magistrate courts and the assessment collected on several filings in magistrate court.

Status: The House Judiciary Committee gave H. 4813 a favorable report as amended, and the bill is pending second reading on the House calendar.

Probate, Notice to Creditors

H. 4511 would allow notice by publication in an online version of a newspaper for certain real property actions such as foreclosure. It also would create a centralized website for the South Carolina Probate Court, which would be organized by county and searchable by the names of either the decedent or the personal representative. Finally, it would allow a personal representative to provide notice to creditors through this centralized website.

Status: The House Judiciary Business and Probate subcommittee adopted a strike and insert amendment to allow publication in an online version of a newspaper for court proceedings involving real estate actions, as well as to provide notice to creditors in a probate action. The notice to creditors also can be satisfied without publication in a county that has a public searchable online database of decedents’ estates and names of personal representatives. H. 4511 was given a favorable report as amended and will be on the next full committee’s agenda where additional amendments are expected.

Pre Trial Intervention Program

H. 4720 would allow a person to participate in a pretrial intervention program more than once if 20 years have passed since the date of the last successful completion of the program.

Status: The House Judiciary Committee gave H. 4720 a favorable report, and the bill is pending second reading on the House calendar.

County Government and Intergovernmental Relations

Poll Workers’ Pay

H. 3551 would exempt certain compensation paid to poll managers and clerks of elections from gross income for income tax purposes and for purposes of the South Carolina Retirement System, an SCAC policy position.

Status: SCAC testified in support of H. 3551 in a House Ways and Means subcommittee, and the bill was given a favorable report. It will be on the next full committee’s agenda.

Veterans’ Benefits

S. 695 would enact the “South Carolina Safeguarding American Veterans’ Benefits Act” to prohibit claim sharks who are not federally accredited by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) from charging veterans for helping file their benefit claims. The amendments would clarify what constitutes excessive or unreasonable fees from those accredited by the DVA and what should be included in agreements between veterans and those offering to help them receive their benefits.

Status: The Senate Family and Veterans’ Services Committee gave S. 695 a favorable report as amended, and the bill is pending second reading on the Senate calendar.

Other Statewide Bills of Interest

DUI Reform

As passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, S. 52 would reform the penalties for people convicted of driving under the influence. Those convicted of a second offense or more would be required to carry a surety and have a certificate of financial responsibility (SR-22) filed by their insurance company. This week, the Senate continued debating the bill on the floor, adopting several amendments. The Senate will return Tuesday, Feb. 3, to continue debating S. 52.

Hemp Products

The House Judiciary Committee passed two bills dealing with hemp products. H. 4758 would ban all consumable hemp products in South Carolina, and H. 4759 would establish regulations and guidelines for these products. Both bills are pending second reading on the House calendar.

Legislative Expenses

S. 779 would give all members of the General Assembly a legislative expense allowance of $1,000 per month. The House gave S. 779 a second reading, and the bill is pending a third reading on the House calendar.

Abortion-Inducing Drugs

H. 4760 would establish crimes and penalties for the use of abortion-inducing drugs, such as mifepristone and misoprostol, with exceptions. The House Judiciary Committee gave H. 4760 a favorable report as amended, and the bill is pending second reading on the contested House calendar.

Judicial Elections

S. 336 would require the General Assembly to meet in joint session on the first Wednesday of March for the election of judges. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission would be required to release its report on the qualifications of its nominees to the General Assembly no fewer than 23 days before the date the General Assembly is to conduct the election. The House Judiciary Committee gave S. 336 a favorable report, and the House gave the bill a second reading.

See below links for summaries of legislation introduced this week.

House Bills

Senate Bills

View/Download Full Text for Newly-Introduced Legislation

You can also go to www.scstatehouse.gov and click on "Legislation," then "Introduced Legislation."

Note: If you would like to offer comments to the SCAC staff, please call us toll-free at 1-800-922-6081, fax to (803) 252-0379, or send an email.

Registration is open for 2026 Counties Connect: A Legislative Action Day. Join us Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Columbia! It's a great opportunity for county officials to engage directly with state legislators and advocate for their communities.

The day includes a legislative briefing, a visit to the State House and an evening reception with General Assembly members at the Palmetto Club.

Institute of Government classes and the Council Chairperson's Workshop will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, in conjunction with the event.