The House and Senate return Tuesday, January 13th for the 2nd regular session of the 126th General Assembly.
Simply put, we’re back to continue debate on bills filed last year and consider debate on bills filed for this year.
For many years now, you’ve been able to follow the State House through www.scstatehouse.gov and I encourage you to use this tool often! To follow legislation, to watch committees, and to watch debates from the floor of both the House and Senate.
We didn’t have that much access when I was first elected, so it’s good to see how far we’ve come in transparency in state government through the years. I’ve enjoyed leading the efforts for Campaign Finance Reform, On The Record Voting, and more committees being live-streamed for the public to see.
If you have any questions this year, please call my office 803-734-2969 and my Legislative Affairs Manager, Ellie Payne, and let her know what you need from my office! If you’re ever downtown while we are in session, send a note into the chamber so I can come out, say hello, and personally welcome you!
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Going into the last year of a two-year session, state lawmakers looking to get a head start on legislation filed 327 bills before returning to Columbia. The annual practice of lawmakers filing bills ahead of the upcoming session concluded Tuesday with House members filing 258 bills ahead of the legislative session that begins Jan. 13. Senators last week filed 69 bills.
Prefiled bills often give an indication of the priorities for lawmakers and legislative leadership. They show what else they’ve been working on while away from Columbia. It’s also a way to show constituents they’re working to keep campaign promises.
Next year’s work will be the second of the 126th General Assembly and will come ahead of the entire House of Representatives and each statewide officer being up for election. So expect to see some legislation filed to help make a campaign point.
How many bills become laws?
What chances do any of these bills have to become law?
It depends on who’s sponsoring them and whether it gains support. A lot of bills have to be filed year after year to gain enough traction to get passed and signed into law. To note, any lawmaker can file a bill at anytime during session.
Whatever didn’t cross the finish line last year is technically still alive.
House members filed 1,563 bills and resolutions in 2025. Of those pieces of legislation, 659 were filed before the start of the session. Senators filed 685 bills and resolutions in 2025, and 153 were filed before the start of session. By the end of the 2025 session, Gov. Henry McMaster signed 94 bills, and vetoed three. One of those vetoes was overridden.