Republican leaders at the state House of Representatives appear to have put two competing bills about elections on the back burner after a “civil war” broke out between factions this week.
The issue focused on whether to force party registration in elections so that political primaries would be closed. Each faction had a different way to do it, but in the end, the bills aren’t expected to take up any more time this year.
Below is an update on 10 other major issues highlighted in our 2026 legislative preview:
1. Income tax cuts: An income tax cut bill passed last year in the S.C. House is being considered by the S.C. Senate Budget Committee. The bill would set rates at 5.39% and 1.99% based on income — lower than the current rates, but taxing more people due to changes in income exemptions and exclusions. NEW: The Senate Budget Committee advanced the House bill on Jan. 20, with an additional property tax cut for residents 65 and older.
2. Rolling back affirmative action and DEI: Several bills are currently awaiting consideration, including one to codify Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order ending affirmative action in state contracting.
3. Juvenile justice: A special committee created by House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, is meeting throughout the session to advance reforms to the state’s juvenile justice system.
4. Highway reform: The House Ad Hoc SCDOT Modernization Committee met last week to begin finalizing recommendations to send to the full House. NEW: Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms, R- Berkeley, introduced a reform measure that, among other things, would allow the state Department of Transportation to add toll lanes to highways to relieve congestion.
5. Fix the pay raise: When the S.C. Supreme Court last year struck down an increase in lawmakers’ “in-district expenses” stipend, the decision also incidentally killed the $1,000 a month that legislators were already receiving.. NEW: On Jan. 21, senators voted unanimously to restore the $1,000 a month stipend.
6. Judicial selection: A bill with the support of leaders in both chambers would give the governor more power in selecting state judges. It’s currently awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee. NEW: The leaders’ bill cleared the subcommittee and now heads to the full Judiciary Committee for further action.
7. Abortion: A House Judiciary subcommittee on Jan. 14 killed one bill to treat abortion as homicide and advanced another to reclassify abortion pills as Schedule IV drugs.
8. Concurrency: A bill by Beaufort GOP Sen. Tom Davis that would allow local governments to limit development in areas with insufficient infrastructure is pending consideration in the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.
9. DOGE SC: Multiple bills promising to cut the state workforce and the regulations they enforce have been introduced for consideration in 2026. In particular, House GOP leaders have pledged to get their “Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act” passed into law this session.
10. Immigration: Currently in the House Judiciary Committee, H. 4764 would require all S.C. sheriffs to partner with the federal government to enforce national immigration laws.
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