South Carolina State House Recap: Week of April 21, 2025
- Alpha Strategies
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
We’re entering the final stretch of the 2025 legislative session, and with just six days left on the State House calendar, lawmakers are moving urgently to pass major policy bills before sine die on May 8.
Here’s a quick look at what’s happening:
Big Policy Battles Still Hanging in the Balance
The Republican-controlled Legislature is still working to finalize two of its top priorities:
Both are critical to Republican leadership. If these bills aren’t passed by May 8, they’ll have to wait until next year unless the narrow sine die resolution is amended.
School Voucher Bill Hits a Delay
Senators hoped to pass S. 62, a bill that would allow state-funded private K-12 tuition vouchers managed by a third-party organization selected by the Department of Education. But on Thursday, the Senate lacked enough members present to conduct official business causing a delay.
Senate Votes to Remove State Treasurer Curtis Loftis
In a historic move, the Senate voted 33–8 on Monday to remove State Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office.
The vote follows a two-year investigation into a $1.8 billion accounting error that remained unreported for nearly a decade. Senators accused Loftis of "willful neglect of duty" and "incompetence" for failing to report the issue to lawmakers.
This marks the first time in South Carolina’s 235-year history that the Senate has voted to remove a statewide elected official.
The matter now moves to the House of Representatives, where a two-thirds vote would be required to finalize Loftis’ removal. As of now, the House has not indicated whether it will hold its own hearing.
Senate Approves $14B+ State Budget
The Senate passed its version of the state budget this week in a 41–2 vote. Highlights include:
• $80 million for teacher pay raises (raising starting salaries to $48,500)
• More than $21 million for the School Resource Officer Program
• $10 million for disaster relief
• More than $7 million for Family Court and judicial system support
• $4 million for cellphone interdiction at state prisons
Senators also voted 24–15 to increase in-district legislative expense allowances from $1,000 to $2,500 per month. This monthly, taxable payout — covering travel and office costs — is in addition to lawmakers' base salary, per diems, and retirement benefits. Currently, lawmakers earn a $10,400 annual salary plus district expenses: the increase amounts to an additional $18,000 per year.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, noted that, instead of using separate earmarks for local projects, this year’s approach aims to free up money for income tax reductions, a key part of the Republican agenda.
The budget now heads back to the House for review.
The Clock is Ticking
The legislative session ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. The sine die resolution is strict, meaning lawmakers will likely only return afterward to:
Finalize the state budget
Address any bills vetoed by the Governor
Any bills not passed this year will have one more chance in the second year of the two-year legislative term. The two-year cycle allows bills that didn’t pass in the first year to carry over into the second year for further consideration, without needing to be reintroduced.
We'll Continue Monitoring
At Alpha Strategies, we’re closely monitoring these developments and ready to keep you ahead of the curve. Have questions about what’s next or how these issues impact you—we've got you covered.
Until next time,
Alpha Strategies
📍 South Carolina Public Affairs | Policy Insights | Legislative Watcher
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