South Carolina Legislature Tackles Abortion Ban, Budget Surplus, and Economic Growth in Pivotal 2026 Session

South Carolina is navigating significant legislative priorities as the 2026 legislative session reaches its midpoint with 52 days remaining. The General Assembly reconvened this week with multiple policy initiatives moving forward simultaneously.

In the legislature, the House and Senate are advancing several high-profile bills. According to South Carolina Public Radio, a restrictive abortion ban proposal has been filed by Republicans, which would outright prohibit the procedure and classify it as homicide, representing a significant shift from the state's current six-week ban with exceptions. DUI legislation is also gaining momentum, with the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing Bill S. 52 to strengthen the state's drunk driving laws. Additionally, lawmakers are considering restoring a 1,000-dollar monthly allowance for legislators' in-district expenses and debating a balanced budget amendment convention measure. The House will hold an election for a new chaplain on January 21st following longtime Chaplain Charles Seastrunk's resignation after more than two decades of service.

On the economic front, South Carolina is experiencing robust growth. The Department of Commerce announced that industry recruitment reached 9.12 billion dollars in 2025, with rural projects accounting for more than 40 percent of total capital investment, the highest percentage since 2010. According to the department, rural recruitment spanned agribusiness, automotive, energy, and wood and paper products sectors.

Governor Henry McMaster has released his proposed 2026-2027 executive budget, which invests more than one billion dollars while deploying a 2.7 billion dollar surplus. The budget prioritizes workforce development, healthcare expansion, and infrastructure investment. It includes 95 million dollars for workforce scholarships through technical colleges and 115 million dollars for a comprehensive cancer center at MUSC. Education officials are also requesting significant funding increases, including 61 million dollars for education scholarships and 120 million dollars for a permanent school safety and facility infrastructure bank.

In community developments, South Carolina's education system continues expansion efforts, with bond referendums proposed across districts to support school construction and renovations aimed at addressing capacity issues and population growth.

Looking ahead, Governor McMaster will deliver his final State of the State address to the joint assembly on Wednesday, January 28th. The legislature continues working through priority legislation with critical votes expected on tax bills, transportation modernization measures, and various regulatory changes throughout the remaining session weeks.

Thank you for tuning in to this South Carolina news update. Be sure to subscribe for continued coverage of legislative developments and statewide news. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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