South Carolina lawmakers near end of legislative session

As of late April 2026, the South Carolina General Assembly is approaching the final weeks of its current legislative session.

The session is scheduled to adjourn on May 14, 2026, a deadline formally known as Sine Die.

Because this marks the end of a two-year session, any bill that fails to gain final approval from both chambers and the Governor by this date will die, meaning it must be reintroduced from scratch in the next session.

Lawmakers are currently in a mad dash to finalize the $15 billion state budget, which includes plans for teacher raises, state employee salary increases, and infrastructure improvements.

Beyond the budget, the Republican-led legislature is prioritizing issues such as tax reform, criminal justice, and public safety measures like immigration enforcement.

Other hot topics include school safety and strategies to address the state's healthcare provider shortage.

With a Republican supermajority in both chambers and the Governor's office, the political landscape is highly focused on these specific policy goals.

The final sprint is a delicate balancing act as legislators aim to reconcile budget differences and clear their agendas before the May 14 deadline.