SC lawmakers vote to restore the pay they’ve lost since July 1
Lawmakers are on their way to again receiving the $1,000 a month they lost when the state Supreme Court struck down a legislative pay raise.
The state House on Thursday voted unanimously to restore in-district compensation, which lawmakers tried to increase to $2,500 a month during last year’s budget debate. The state Senate unanimously approved the measure Jan. 21.
Last year when the Legislature adopted a spending plan for 2025-26, lawmakers wanted to increase the in-district compensation to $2,500 a month from $1,000 a month. It amounted to an $18,000 a year a raise. But York County resident Carol Herring and state Sen. Wes Climer, R-York, who is running for the 5th Congressional District seat, sued to stop the increase saying a pay raise could only go into effect with a new General Assembly after an election.
The state Supreme Court agreed with Climer, and struck down the raise. In the process, however, the court struck down the entire in-district compensation amount, including the original $1,000 a month lawmakers had received since the mid-1990s.
The money is given to lawmakers to help cover costs to host town halls, purchase letterhead, buy a computer for legislative duties, or pay for fuel to travel the district. Lawmakers, however, don’t have to itemize the expenses and the money they receive as in-district compensation is taxable income.
The restoration will be retroactive to July 1, 2025. The back pay will come in a lump sum. A prorated amount will be given to lawmakers who resigned during their term. However, the retroactive pay won’t be given to a member who pleaded guilty or was convicted of a felony, a provision that will keep former state Rep. RJ May, who was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, from receiving the pay.
The legislation now goes to Gov. Henry McMaster for his approval. However, absent further legislation or inclusion in the next budget, the monthly in-district compensation will only be in effect through the end of June.
