S.C. Senate hits brakes on FOIA sports exemption

The S.C. Senate reversed field this week on a bill that would exempt state universities’ payments to football players and other student athletes from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

After passing the bill 30-13 in a recorded vote on Tuesday, senators balked at giving it third and final reading in a Wednesday voice vote. The action, or lack thereof, was in response to a report in The Post and Courier that Clemson transferred school funds, as opposed to third-party dollars, into the account from which its athletes are paid, leading some senators to feel misled by school officials.

“I don’t like being lied to,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told his colleagues. “I’ve either got an incorrect article here, or I’ve got universities giving us wrong information.”

Bills that are on the move

Tax cuts: An income tax cut bill passed last year in the S.C. House is being considered by the S.C. Senate. 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. LATEST: A property tax cut for residents 65 and older that was introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, passed the Senate 44-0 on Feb. 18.

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. LATEST: A House subcommittee heard testimony on the bill Feb. 17 but took no action.

Judicial selection: A bill with the support of leaders in both chambers would give the governor more power in selecting state judges. LATEST: S.C. House members passed the bill 86-25 on Feb. 11, sending it to the Senate for further consideration.

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. LATEST: The committee’s first bipartisan bill, H. 5117, is pending before the House Judiciary Committee.

Concurrency: A bill by Beaufort Republican Sen. Tom Davis that would allow local governments to limit development in areas with insufficient infrastructure received its first subcommittee hearing on Feb. 11.

Highway reform: Members of the House Ad Hoc SCDOT Modernization Committee introduced sweeping legislation on Jan. 29 aimed at shaking up the state’s transportation system, including stronger SCDOT executive oversight, increased county responsibility for some state roads and higher taxes on electric vehicles. A bill with similar goals has also been introduced in the S.C. Senate.

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 through the S.C. Senate this session. LATEST: Senate leaders say the bill could come up for consideration in late February or March.

Bills in less of a hurry

Rolling back affirmative action and DEI: Several bills are still currently awaiting consideration, including one to codify Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order ending affirmative action in state contracting.

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. LATEST: A bill restoring the $1,000 stipend retroactive to July 1, 2025, is headed to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk after clearing the Senate Jan. 21 and the House Jan. 29.

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. LATEST: The S.C. House on Feb. 4 voted 81-31 to advance the abortion pill rescheduling bill to the S.C. Senate.