9 key debates from South Carolina's 2025 legislative session

South Carolina’s 2025 legislative session featured contentious debates on energy, education, and government accountability. Lawmakers approved a major energy bill enabling a new natural gas plant but dropped consumer protections and public notice rules for pipeline projects, sparking concern over higher power bills and environmental impacts.

The session also saw a push for new school voucher programs, discussions over teacher and legislative pay raises and controversy surrounding a bill to ban diversity, equity and inclusion efforts — which state agencies estimated could have cost $86 million and threaten billions in grants. Meanwhile, Senate battles over leadership confirmations were shaped by climate change questions and COVID-19 backlash, highlighted by the rejection of Dr. Edward Simmer’s public health nomination after tense hearings focused on pandemic policy and vaccine advocacy.

Many coal-fired power plants are to be replaced by natural gas or nuclear plants because coal contributes heavily to greenhouse gas pollution. This is a photograph of emissions from a coal-fired power plant near Columbia. By Sammy Fretwell/The State

NO. 1: STATE COULD LIMIT SCRUTINY OF POLLUTION THREAT FROM NEW POWER PLANTS

A voluminous energy bill is intended to help provide more power for South Carolina. But it creates loopholes that could hurt the public and the environment, critics say. | Published February 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

The South Carolina Statehouse is shown in this 2024 photo. By Travis Bell

NO. 2: DEI BAN BILL WOULD COST SC STATE AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES AT LEAST $86 MILLION, REPORT SAYS

A report by the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office highlights the potential “significant” financial impact of the bill barring state agencies from promoting diversity, equity and inclusion or doing business with companies that do. | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alexa Jurado

South Carolina State Representative Annie McDaniel, D-Fairfield, looks up to greet visitors before the house debates amendments to the state budget on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 3: ANTI-DEI PROPOSAL WAS KILLED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. HOW DID SC’S DEMOCRATS DEFEAT IT FOR NOW?

Budget writers inserted a provision to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the House budget proposal, but it was ultimately removed. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

Dr. Edward Simmer, the interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, testifies at a confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee on Thursday, March 20, 2025. By Joseph Bustos

NO. 4: SC PUBLIC HEALTH NOMINEE TO RETURN TO HOT SEAT AS COVID RESPONSE COLORS CONFIRMATION

Dr. Edward Simmer has been the target of people upset over the COVID pandemic response even though he started working for the state in 2021. | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, discusses an income tax reform proposal that would lead to bringing the tax rate to 3.99% from the top rate of 6.2%. By Travis Bell/Statehouse Carolina

NO. 5: SC WANTS TO CHANGE HOW IT TAXES YOUR INCOME. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROPOSAL

South Carolinians would keep more money in their paychecks, but get a smaller refund when they file their taxes in 2027. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

South Carolina State Representative and Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, listens as house members debate amendments to the state budget on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 6: PROPOSED SC INCOME TAX CHANGE CREATES MESSAGING BATTLE AS 6 IN 10 WOULD INITIALLY PAY MORE

SC House Republican leadership wants to change the state’s income tax system to a flat tax of 3.99%. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos Ted Clifford

The 300-foot tall stacks fall at the Grainger coal fired power plant in Conway fell in 2016 as part of plans to close the facility. After 50 years of service, the stacks fell in less than 10 seconds. For the last few years of operation, use was limited to supplying power during peak periods. By Janet Blackmon Morgan

NO. 7: POWER BILLS COULD GO UP MORE OFTEN UNDER SWEEPING ENERGY BILL APPROVED BY STATE SENATE

Senators spent most of this week debating a sweeping energy bill before finally approving it just before midnight Wednesday | Published April 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

NO. 8: PICK TO LEAD SC PUBLIC HEALTH GETS THUMBS DOWN AMID COVID VACCINE BACKLASH

The South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee voted 12-5 against giving a favorable report to Department of Public Health nominee Dr. Edward Simmer. | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis arrives for a hearing in front of the state senate on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Senate will decide whether or not to remove Loftis from office. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 9: SC SENATE VOTES TO OUST TREASURER CURTIS LOFTIS OVER $1.8B ACCOUNTING ERROR

Most of the $1.8 billion listed in a flow through fund set up during switch in accounting systems never existed, an independent audit report found. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

Myra Reece is a career environmental official in South Carolina who was named director of the new Department of Environmental Services. She had not been confirmed by the S.C. Senate as of April 14, 2025. By Sammy Fretwell/The State

NO. 10: TENSION OVER CLIMATE CHANGE DOMINATES SC ENVIRONMENTAL NOMINATION HEARING

Gov. Henry McMaster’s choice to run the state’s environmental agency gained key support from a Senate committee. She now is up for confirmation by the full Senate. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Coastal Carolina University athletes read to a kindergarten lasses at Palmetto Bays Elementary School on March 1, 2023. By JASON LEE

NO. 11: SOUTH CAROLINA PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM PROPOSAL GETS POTENTIAL COMPROMISE

The private school portion of South Carolina’s school choice program was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2024, but lawmakers have sought to figure out how to allow families to use public money at private schools. | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

State Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, right, presides over a meeting of the Joint Bond Review Committee. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 12: SC SENATE BUDGET LOCKS IN TEACHER RAISES. WHAT’S DIFFERENT FROM THE HOUSE PLAN?

Both budgets include plans to reduce the maximum income tax rate from 6.2% to 6%. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler discusses the budget deal on Thursday, June 8, 2023. By Joseph Bustos

NO. 13: THE SC SENATE BUDGET SLASHES $2 BILLION IN SPENDING. HOW DID THEY GET THERE?

Hard-line conservative South Carolina House Freedom Caucus members have praised the cuts. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

Sen. Harvey Peeler, left, and Sen. Shane Martin during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Monday, April 3, 2023 in Columbia, S.C. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA)

NO. 14: COULD SC LEGISLATORS SEE FIRST PAY INCREASE SINCE 1995? THE SENATE MAKES A PUSH

An increase in compensation would also have to be approved by the House. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

South Carolina State Representative Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, and State Representative Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, speak as house members debate amendments to the state budget on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 15: NEW SC TAX REFORM PLAN COULD LOWER RATES, BUT 24% OF FILERS WOULD PAY MORE MONEY

Proponents of the bill say this version gives South Carolina a path to having zero income tax, while using adjusted gross income to calculate income taxes instead of the lower federal taxable income. An initial plan had 60% of filers seeing an initial increase in taxes. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

Myra Reece, a career environmental official in South Carolina, was nominated to be director of the Department of Environmental Services by Gov. Henry McMaster. She received a confirmation recommendation from the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on April 15 and won full Senate approval April 30. By Sammy Fretwell/The State

NO. 16: SENATE APPROVES SC ENVIRONMENT CHIEF, DESPITE COMPLAINTS BY PROPERTY RIGHTS ADVOCATES

Gov. Henry McMaster’s pick to run the state’s environmental agency has been approved by the S.C. Senate after a handful of property rights advocates spoke against her | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell Joseph Bustos

Natural gas is an abundant source of energy. South Carolina officials are considering a new gas plant. In this photo, excess natural is being being burned off in a flare. By File photo

NO. 17: HOUSE VOTE COULD KEEP PUBLIC IN THE DARK ABOUT SC PIPELINE PROJECTS

As the legislative session nears an end, the state House of Representatives has changed a major energy bill to become more friendly to utility companies. Critics say that’s bad for the public. | Published May 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

A beer being poured at Keg Cowboy in Lexington, SC. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 18: DEAL STRUCK TO HELP SC BARS, RESTAURANTS COPE WITH RISING LIQUOR LIABILITY COSTS

Rising liability insurance costs have led to some bars and restaurants to close in South Carolina. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos

More energy is needed to help South Carolina meet future growth demands, utilities say. This photo shows a new nuclear plant in Georgia. South Carolina is looking to jump start a failed nuclear project like the one in Georgia, while also looking at a large new natural gas plant in the Lowcountry. By Courtesy Georgia Power

NO. 19: SWEEPING ENERGY BILL GETS BLESSING OF SC SENATE, DESPITE CONCERNS ABOUT RATE INCREASES

A huge new natural gas plant in Colleton County is nearing approval by the state Legislature. Gov. Henry McMaster would have to sign legislation allowing it. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

This law is unique to just two states out of 50 in the United States. Pictured, a joint session of the SC legislature on Wednesday June 5, 2024. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 20: GOP HAS SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH SC CHAMBERS. HOW WELL DID THEY USE IT IN 2025?

South Carolina’s 2025 legislative session ended Thursday. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers are still alive for 2026. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Bustos Javon L. Harris

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.