- A Leader like George Washington
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- Embedded in America
- Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Outline Competing Visions at Upstate Women’s Forum
- Senate Property Tax Debate Expands as Bright Pushes Broader Relief Amendment
- From Sewer Expansion to Six-Figure Sanctions
- Subscribe to Times Examiner Weekly Briefings
- The Iranian Dilemma
- Property Rights vs. Property Rights? Greenville County Weighs Short-Term Rental Rules
- Flat Earth, Round Earth, and the Bible’s Forgotten Clue
- More Quotes on the Civil War
- Greenland Defense and Arctic Economic Development
- Are You, As A Christian, Or A Person Of Faith, Involved In Politics? Should You Be?
- Immigration Enforcement
- Political and Economic Impact of Attack on Iran
S.960: Establishment Aims To Gag SC Watchdogs
- Details
- By Alaina Moore - United Patriots Alliance
A bill that would threaten the effectiveness of watchdogs in South Carolina was filed on February 26, 2026 and began moving almost immediately. It appears that Senate leadership has not taken too kindly to our efforts to hold them accountable and decided to file S.960.
The significance of the date this bill was filed was not lost on us as it was the same day S.897, a bill authored by democrat lawyer-legislator Margie Bright Matthews that would eliminate religious exemption for the MMR vaccine, was scheduled for a hearing. Thanks to our and other watchdog group efforts, this bill did not move out of subcommittee.
Now, state senators are attempting to make sure we cannot do that again. Specifically, Senators Sean Bennett, Greg Hembree, Luke Rankin, Ross Turner, Chip Campsen, and Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.
Statehouse Update March 10-12
- Details
- By SC Policy Council
Update 3/11/26: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week.
Budget debate started in the House on Monday, with the process expected to last all week and possibly into next week. After finalizing a budget proposal, the House will debate tax cuts.
Meanwhile, the Senate will continue holding budget hearings as well as other committee hearings on crucial legislation. Last week, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced S.831, a major Department of Transportation (DOT) reform proposal, to the Senate floor. It remains to be seen whether this bill or the proposal in the House, H.5017, will be the vessel for DOT reform utilized by the legislature.
Budget
- General Appropriations Bill H.5126 – This bill allocates the budget for next year totaling over $15.1B in spending from the General Fund. House floor debate is underway. Update: This bill has passed the House and moves to the Senate for consideration.
- Capital Reserve Fund H.5127 – House floor debate commences immediately after second reading of H.5126. Update: This bill has passed the House and moves to the Senate for consideration.
Statehouse Update March 3-5
- Details
- By Brendan Connors - SC Policy Council
Update 3/3/26: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred throughout the week.
Last week, the Senate passed the income tax bill (H.4216) with an amended tax rate, cutting the top rate by an additional 0.18%. Click here to learn more about the proposal in a recent piece by Vance Ginn, Ph.D., Senior Economic Fellow at the Policy Council.
Palmetto Family and Faith Wins To Host Candidate Forum
- Details
- By Randy Page - Palmetto Family Council
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Steve Pettit, President of Palmetto Family Council, and Chad Connelly, President of Faith Wins, announced today that their organizations will be co-hosting a candidate forum on Thursday, May 21, at Village Church (574 Rimer Pond Road, Blythewood) for candidates running for the United States Senate, Governor, and Attorney General in either the Republican or Democratic Party primaries.
“It’s important for people of faith to have the opportunity to meet statewide candidates personally,’ said Pettit. “Many times, issues important to believers are rarely featured in other forums or debates, and Palmetto Family is delighted to co-host these events with Faith Wins.”
Summaries of Judicial Ethics Complaints Released, but Secrecy Remains
- Details
- By Rick Brundrett - The Nerve
Last fiscal year, of the 636 pending and new ethics complaints filed against S.C. judges, 490, or 77%, were dismissed, according to an annual Judicial Department report, though no detailed explanations for the dismissals or other specifics of those cases were given.
After The Nerve for years repeatedly reported on the state court’s secretive disciplinary system, the S.C. Supreme Court – led by Chief Justice John Kittredge, who became the administrative head of the state court system in 2024 – issued a written order last June to begin publishing summaries of dismissed judicial complaints.
Since that order, a total of 246 summaries of dismissed ethics complaints from July through December last year have been published on the Judicial Department’s website, a review by The Nerve found. The state’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and runs through the following June 30.
The SC Senate Just Told Everyone Under 65 to ‘Pay Up and Shut Up'
- Details
- By Alaina Moore - United Patriots Alliance
How 32 lawmakers killed fair tax relief and protected sweetheart deals instead
Over the past several weeks, the South Carolina Senate has heavily debated S.768, a bill that would give a property tax break to those 65 and older who have lived in South Carolina for ten years or more.
S.768, also known as the Homestead Act, was introduced and pioneered by Senate Finance Committee chairman Harvey Peeler. Peeler himself is nearly 80 years old and has held the same senate seat for 45 years.
On February 18th, Senator Lee Bright offered amendment 6 to the Homestead Act which would allow all taxpayers to receive the same property tax break, not only senior citizens.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Outline Competing Visions at Upstate Women’s Forum
- Details
- By James Spurck, Publisher
Four announced contenders make their case as undecided voters remain a decisive factor
Photo by Terry M. Thacker
The Upstate Republican Women’s Club and Fourth Republican District Club hosted a South Carolina Republican gubernatorial forum on February 23, 2026, bringing together party activists and voters for a structured discussion of leadership priorities ahead of the June primary.
Veteran broadcaster Jane Robelot served as moderator, emphasizing the responsibility of informed voting and encouraging attendees to evaluate not just policy positions but governing temperament. Each candidate was given time for opening remarks, policy questions, and a closing statement. Audience participation from the floor was not permitted.
S.C. Senate Moves to Expand Property Tax Homestead Exemption
- Details
- By Neil Wolin - SC Policy Council
As home value assessments rise, South Carolina residents 65 and older are increasingly calling for property tax relief.
In response, the Senate advanced S.768, the bill would expand the current $50,000 homestead exemption.
After a round of adopted and rejected amendments in committee and on the Senate floor, the bill received second and third reading, advancing the legislation to the House for consideration.
A Trio of Data Center Bills Filed in the Senate
- Details
- By Neil Wolin - SC Policy Council
Last year, the governor signed energy legislation that expedited energy projects in the state, most notably the Canady’s natural gas plant. Before signage, the House removed requirements that would protect ratepayers from massive energy infrastructure costs driven up by commercial data centers.
In the absence of these protections and heightened concerns about where and how data centers operate in the state, the Senate has introduced three new data center regulatory bills.
Nearly 80 percent of S.C. voters support data centers providing their own energy generation or paying for their own infrastructure costs, as indicated in SCPC’s recent winter poll.
Senate Property Tax Debate Expands as Bright Pushes Broader Relief Amendment
- Details
- By James Spurck, Publisher
S.768 would raise senior exemption to $150,000 as a proposed amendment seeks relief for all homeowners
Debate over property tax relief intensified this week in the South Carolina General Assembly as senators continue to consider the Senate Bill 768, a measure that would significantly expand South Carolina’s homestead exemption for seniors while also opening discussion about broader relief for all primary homeowners.
Senate Bill 768, as amended by the Senate Finance Committee, would increase the existing homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 of fair market value for qualifying homeowners age 65 and older who have lived in South Carolina for at least five property tax years. Under current law, the homestead exemption applies to residents age 65 and older, as well as those who are legally blind or totally disabled, and exempts the first $50,000 of a primary residence’s fair market value from county, municipal, school, and special assessment property taxes.
FY 27: Another year of big state spending?
- Details
- By Sam Aaron - SC Policy Council
On Monday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster released his proposed state spending plan for fiscal year 2027, which starts July 1.
His state budget proposal outlines several familiar policy priorities, including teacher pay raises, additional infrastructure funding, and an extension of the in-state tuition freeze.
So how does this budget shape up compared to last year's final figures?
Pray Safe Bill?
- Details
- By SC Freedom Caucus
The Devil's in the Details
A bill set to be voted on TODAY in the SC House sparked a fiery debate last week.
"The Pray Safe Act" provides government grants (up to $750,000 of taxpayer cash) to qualifying “private religious organizations” for safety improvements. With the rise in attacks on churches and synagogues from gunman, arsonists, and left wing protestors this may seem like a reasonable solution.
However, the devil is in the details.
The Blue-Collar Tax Hike: See How H.4216 Hits Your Household + Immediate Action Steps
- Details
- By Alaina Moore - Palmetto State Watch
The South Carolina legislature has come back to attempt passage of H.4216 which increases taxes for lower income families and eliminates all standard and itemized deductions. Legislators tried to push this through last year, as we sounded the alarm in previous reporting, but thankfully legislators were forced by the grassroots to hold off due to clear opposition. Now, they are back to finish what they started if you don’t act soon.
The Scary Details – Reverse Robin Hood
As described by former Rep. Jonathon Hill in his latest Bad Bill Sheet, H.4216 changes the state individual income tax in four major ways:
- Establishes two tax brackets: 1.99% for all incomes up to $30,000 a year and 5.39% for all other incomes.
- Eliminates all standard and itemized deductions.
- Add a graduated deduction of up to $30,000 for those earning less than $110,000.
- Conditionally lowers the top rate by 1% per year until it reaches 1.99%.
The South Carolina Policy Council’s 2026 Winter Poll
- Details
- By Sam Aaron - SC Policy Council
With the start of 2026, the second half of the legislative session is underway. Both new and existing proposals are moving through the South Carolina Statehouse. To provide lawmakers, members of the media, and the public with the most up-to-date insight into where likely South Carolina voters stand on key issues, such as taxes, judicial reform, and energy policy, the South Carolina Policy Council is releasing its latest policy poll.
The poll was conducted from January 24 to February 1 among 1,200 registered voters.
Taxes & Spending
This year, tax reform dominated the conversation at the Statehouse. Income tax reform, in particular, took center stage, with lawmakers debating whether to reduce or eliminate the tax altogether. But what do South Carolina voters think?
72% of voters supported reducing or eliminating the state income tax.
Columbia Thinks More Taxes, Not Concrete Will Fix Roads
- Details
- By SC Freedom Caucus
Twenty-three lawmakers appointed by the Speaker to a special Committee traveled across the state (on your dime) for 6 public hearings to determine how to fix South Carolina’s crumbling roads.
Their answer—they need more of your money. No joke.
What was sold as a major Department of Transportation reform bill is in fact a confused amalgamation of tax hikes, long-overdue common sense reforms, and fiscally irresponsible proposals that would make matters worse.
Not to be outdone, the SC Senate has their own DOT reform bill that is even worse.
Palmetto Family Alliance Statement on H. 4756
- Details
- By Palmetto Family Alliance
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Palmetto Family Alliance President Steve Pettit issued the following statement regarding H. 4756, the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act, which is being considered in a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee today:
“As South Carolina’s leading voice for biblical values, Palmetto Family Alliance strongly supports H. 4756, the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act. This commonsense legislation upholds the dignity, safety, and privacy of students in public schools and higher education institutions by ensuring that restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters are designated and used based on biological sex.
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