Only three weeks remain in this legislative session, so legislators at the State House are in full-sprint mode to get bills across the finish line before sine die May 14. The Senate passed the state budget Thursday evening after spending the week debating numerous amendments, including several of interest to counties.
With the House on furlough this week, all eyes were on the Senate as it continued debate on the hemp regulations bill. After a lengthy debate lasting past midnight Wednesday, the chamber failed toadvance the bill by a vote of 15-25. However, on Thursday a compromise was reached, and the Senate voted on a procedural move that allowed them to give the bill a second reading.
The state budget, roads and data centers headlined action in the General Assembly this week. The Senate began their debate on the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) modernization bill while also advancing the hemp regulations bill.
The General Assembly’s second week of session featured significant activity in both chambers. The House continued hearing budget requests from state agencies while also holding subcommittee meetings on several election and judicial election reform bills. The House Ways and Means Committee will debate the budget the week of Feb.
Members of the Senate worked throughout the day Tuesday and Wednesday debating and passing their version of the $14 billion FY 2025-26 state budget (H.
The full Senate met in perfunctory session this week while the Senate Finance Committee debated and passed their version of the budget bill, H.
