THE FIRST WEEK OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT TO WATCH

The first week of South Carolina’s 2026 legislative session moved quickly. New members were sworn in, committees resumed full operations, and leadership advanced several time-sensitive issues. While much of the week involved procedural groundwork, early actions offered clear signals about priorities, pressure points, and how the months ahead are likely to unfold.

New Members and Committee Dynamics

Both chambers returned to full membership following recent vacancies. The House swore in four new members: Reps. Dianne Mitchell (R-Greenville), Greg Ford (R-Dorchester), John Lastinger (R-Lexington), and Keishan Scott (D-Lee). The Senate added one returning legislator, Sen. Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg). These additions restored the General Assembly to its full complement of 170 members and stabilized committee operations.

While partisan balance remains unchanged, new members often influence tone and committee dynamics, particularly early in session. Sen. Bright’s return is especially noteworthy. He previously served in the Senate from 2008 to 2016 and reclaimed his seat in a special election following the resignation of Sen. Roger Nutt. His early activity suggests an intent to reengage substantively rather than take a gradual reentry.

For the House freshmen, their arrivals largely maintain the political status quo. Each won a seat previously held by the same party, keeping the House balance at 88 Republicans and 36 Democrats.

The House also finalized committee leadership changes tied to late-2025 resignations. Notably, House Judiciary now has new leadership, with Rep. Weston Newton (R-Beaufort) serving as chairman following the resignation of former Chairman Chris Murphy. Given Judiciary’s jurisdiction, this transition will be closely watched as major policy debates advance.

The Governor’s Budget and the Last-Year Lens

Governor Henry McMaster released his executive budget proposal just ahead of the session. As his final budget as governor, his Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, reflects both continuity and legacy priorities.

Key themes include raising starting teacher pay, accelerating transportation infrastructure, targeted tax relief, investments in early childhood education, school meals, higher education affordability, healthcare infrastructure, and land conservation. The budget does not include an across-the-board state employee pay raise, an omission that may prompt legislative discussion as the budget process unfolds.

The budget now shifts to the House, where Ways and Means subcommittees have begun agency hearings. Historically, the Governor’s priorities have aligned closely with final outcomes, and early signals suggest many of these items will receive serious consideration.

Early Legislative Movement

Several developments stood out in week one.

The House moved rapidly to pass legislation addressing confidentiality related to name, image, and likeness compensation for college athletes, citing pending litigation and competitiveness concerns. The speed of passage underscored how quickly leadership can act when alignment exists.

In the Senate, leadership elevated DUI reform legislation by placing it on special order, signaling intent to bring the bill to the floor early. While debate is expected, the procedural move reflects broad agreement that current law requires adjustment.

Tax policy also moved early. Senate Finance advanced legislation expanding the homestead exemption for older homeowners, while income tax reform continued advancing through the process.

At the same time, Senate Democrats introduced the Family Protection Act (S.825), a proposal focused on affordability for working families. Filed by Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, the bill includes child tax credits, creation of a Family Opportunity Office to coordinate services for caregivers, and a sales tax exemption for diapers and other baby supplies. While the bill faces long odds, it adds context to broader affordability discussions.

Social Policy Battles Reemerge

Week one also included early positioning on abortion and transgender-related legislation, signaling that both issues will again factor into the session’s policy landscape.

On abortion, conservative lawmakers introduced legislation that would ban abortion outright and treat it as homicide. Similar proposals have failed in prior sessions, and many Republican leaders have expressed discomfort with that approach. Still, the filing underscores that abortion policy remains an active issue. South Carolina currently operates under a six-week abortion ban with exceptions. While legislative leadership appears largely satisfied with that framework following last year’s debates, a more hardline faction continues to press for stricter limits.

At the same time, House Judiciary subcommittees considered separate legislation focused on abortion-inducing medication. That bill received a hearing alongside the broader ban proposal. The early attention suggests that while sweeping changes may face resistance, narrower regulatory efforts could continue to move through the committee process. How Judiciary leadership manages these bills will be critical.

The House also revived debate on legislation commonly referred to as the “bathroom bill.” H.4756, the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act, would require individuals in public school facilities to use restrooms and locker rooms corresponding to biological sex at birth. Supporters argue the bill addresses privacy and safety in schools, while opponents, including LGBTQ advocacy organizations, view it as discriminatory.

A House subcommittee held hearings on the bill during the first week, and leadership scheduled it for consideration by the full Judiciary Committee on a compressed timeline. That decision signals an intent to move the bill toward the House floor. Whether the Senate engages with the measure, particularly in an election year, remains an open question.

What to Watch

As the session shifts from setup to execution, committee calendars and budget hearings will matter more than floor speeches. The coming weeks will test how leadership balances policy ambition, election-year realities, and time constraints.

If you are tracking legislation, budget items, or regulatory issues, this is the moment to pay attention and engage early.

At Alpha Strategies, we monitor legislative activity, assess implications, and help clients navigate what comes next. If this session raises questions or opportunities for you, we welcome the conversation.

Alpha Strategies tracks and analyzes legislative and policy activity in South Carolina to help organizations understand what is changing, why it matters, and how to respond.