Here’s what lawmakers completed in final week of SC’s 2025 legislative session
The General Assembly’s work for this year is almost done as the Legislature adjourned Thursday. Lawmakers expect to be back later this month however to finish work on the budget.
But what lawmakers can work on is essentially limited to the annual appropriations bill.
Here are some measures they completed this year, or at least set up for next year.
Liquor liability and tort reform
Restaurants and bars are hoping they may get relief from climbing insurance rates, which have forced some restaurants and bars to close.
The two chambers agreed on a liquor liability bill that also has changes to joint and several liability rules.
The House earlier this year passed a liquor liability bill aimed at addressing insurance premiums for good actors — bars and restaurants that serve responsibly. The Senate had a larger tort reform bill to set rules that govern civil lawsuits.
“The legislation dramatically changes joint and several liability in South Carolina,” said House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton, R-Beaufort, said on the House floor. “It essentially eliminates joint and several liability, not just in the liquor context, which we did in our liquor liability bill, but it also eliminates it except in those circumstances of a willful, wanton, reckless, intentional and/or the illegal or illicit use, sale or possession of drugs.”
The legislation also allows bars and restaurants to lower the amount of liability insurance they have to carry down from the required $1 million.
Under the compromise approved by the House, bars and restaurants can see that $1 million reduced if they take certain actions, including closing earlier than midnight, having employees go through alcohol serving training courses, having less than 40% of their sales come from alcohol or being a nonprofit holding a special event, and using a digital identification scanner if serving alcohol between midnight and 4 a.m.
The law also would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, to give insurance companies time adjust policies.
“I think we’re going to see instant reductions in some premiums right off the bat. And so it should give them what they’re asking for and what they’ve been asking for for the past two years,” said state Sen. Michael Johnson, R-York.
Hands-free cell phones
South Carolina is on the verge of banning people from holding their cell phones while driving. The move, called South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, would prevent people from texting, writing email or watching videos while driving. Motorists would be allowed to keep their phone in a bracket or a cup holder, while operating a vehicle.
This is an expansion of the state’s no texting while driving law.
Without passing this law, the state could miss out on $54 million in federal highway money.
The law would take effect Sept. 1 and law enforcement would only issues warnings for the first six months before writing tickets.
State auditor bill
An effort to have the governor appoint the state auditor hit a stumbling block on the last day of session and will have to wait until January. The Senate made changes to the legislation meant to remove the appointment of the state auditor from the 5-member state fiscal accountability authority, which includes the treasurer and comptroller general.
The proposed change is part of the fallout over the state’s $3.5 billion and $1.8 billion accounting errors stemming from an accounting system change last decade.
Stopping for law enforcement
Increased penalties for not stopping when signaled by law enforcement has been approved by the General Assembly.
Lawmakers approved making it a misdemeanor for not pulling over for police when their lights are flashing. If a driver makes evasive maneuvers such as speeding or driving recklessly, it would increase the crime to a felony.
The impetus of the bill was to address high-speed chases when a suspect is fleeing from police. But lawmakers also wanted to allow someone to keep traveling to an area that is lit or has surveillance cameras without being overly penalized.
“It gives law enforcement that additional tool that they need to start holding some of these people accountable,” said state Sen. Brian Adams, R-Berkeley, a former police lieutenant in North Charleston.
What about energy?
The House and Senate approved a compromise on an wide-ranging energy bill that will allow Santee Cooper to partner with Dominion Energy to build a natural gas plant at the former Canadys coal-fired generation station in Colleton County, as the state experiences growing electricity needs.
Tax reform
The House approved a change on how the state taxes income. Attempts to broaden the base of taxpayers has been a goal for lawmakers, while lowering the state’s highest rate is advocated for to be competitive with neighboring states.
Because budget writers received push back on an initial plan, the Ways and Means Committee did not pass the tax reform legislation until late in the session. The House is expected to debate the tax reform proposal Tuesday. The Senate is expected to take up the proposal next year.
The proposed plan would create a two-tiered tax system and using adjusted gross income to calculate state income taxes instead of the lower federal taxable income. The first $30,000 of a person’s taxable income would be taxed at 1.99%. The remaining income would be taxed at 5.39%. The plan also puts in triggers to lower the top rate when income tax revenues are high enough. However, under the plan, 24% of tax filers would see a tax increase.
Expanded paid family leave for state employees
A bill to expand the paid family leave for state employees and kindergarten through 12th grade teachers to 12 weeks from six weeks was passed by the House late in the session.
The legislation is now available for the Senate to take up next year.
When the state first created the paid parental leave benefit, proponents initially asked for 12 weeks paid leave for the mother and a person who is a co-parent would get four weeks. The benefit was reduced to six weeks for the mother, and two weeks for the co-parent in order to get over hurdles in the the Senate.
The benefit also is in place for the adoption of a child.
Anti-DEI bill
An attempt to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in South Carolina passed in the House, giving GOP lawmakers a win at addressing a concern from conservative voters and a priority from national Republicans.
The bill would bar discrimination already illegal from taking place in the state. Any program that is legally allowed to operate would be unaffected. It serves as a chilling effect on initiatives meant to encourage diversity and inclusion.
Businesses that have state contracts, however, would have to certify they are not violating federal law.
The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate.
Three agencies became one
The governor has signed a bill that merges the Department of Mental Health, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, and Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services into one agency called Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
This is a smaller version of legislation that died in the final minutes of session last year that attempted to merge six health-related agencies.
Now, the governor needs to appoint the agency’s first director as it is a cabinet agency.
Dr. Simmer
After the Senate Medical Affairs Committee opted against giving a favorable report to Dr. Edward Simmer to be the Department of Public Health’s first permanent director, a full vote on the Senate floor is not expected to happen.
“Dr. Simmer is not going to get a vote in the full Senate. When the vote fails in the committee, the vote fails in committee, and that’s where the body is,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said.
Under the law that created the Department of Public Health out of the former Department of Health and Environmental Control, Simmer can stay in the job.
Gov. Henry McMaster has been steadfast in his support for Simmer and has shown no sign that he will name someone new to run the Department of Public Health.
“I‘ll leave that to the governor, but I know he’s certainly aware of the of the committee vote and that, and I think the governor really is really fond of Dr. Simmer, and he thinks he’s done a good job,” Massey said.
K-12 educational scholarships
Gov. Henry McMaster signed a compromise to restart the state’s program to allow families to use taxpayer money at private kindergarten through 12th grade schools.
The money would be distributed through a trustee appointed by the Department of Education and separate from the department. Money for the program would come from either lottery money or general fund dollars to pay for the program.
Under the law, families will be able to use up to $7,500 per educational scholarship account on education related expenses, such as tuition, tutoring and transportation to the school. The program will be open to at least 15,000 students and can increase if the General Assembly allocates additional money to the program. To be eligible, families could earn no more than 300% of the federal poverty level in the first year. In subsequent years, the income cap rises to 500% of the federal poverty level.
The private school portion of the state’s school choice program was struck down by the Supreme court. This revised proposal, which now goes the governor for his signature, is expected to be challenged in court.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM.
