Many new faces will join veteran members in the House and Senate. Following November’s elections, 19 new representatives and 13 new senators are joining the returning members for the new legislative session. New committee and subcommittee chairpersons will join leadership to set the tone for the upcoming several months and determine what new laws need to be passed and what current laws need to be updated.
Since this is the beginning of a two-year session, bills that are not passed by May will still be active for the 2026 legislative session.
New legislative tracking system
The Municipal Association of SC debuted a new legislative tracking system that is initially tracking those bills that House and Senate members in November and December.
By changing from the outdated software that has served Municipal Association members for more than 15 years, local officials have access to more information on each bill and easier search features. The new tracking system is located on the Association’s website.
Advocacy Initiatives process
In September and October, local elected officials had several different opportunities to share ideas and solutions with Municipal Association staff. Instead of Regional Advocacy Meetings this year, the Association hosted an Advocacy Initiative Building Day in Columbia. Officials had the choice of two sessions to attend and share problems, solutions and ideas for statewide legislation to help cities and towns provide more resources for residents, visitors and businesses.
In addition to the two in-person sessions, local elected officials and staff received a survey to share their thoughts about legislative priorities and communication. Association staff also compiled information from meetings taking place with legislators about bills that are already being drafted.
The Association staff took all of the ideas from the in-person sessions and the survey and compiled a list of the most mentioned suggestions. The Association’s legislative committee and board of directors met in October and adopted the Advocacy Initiatives for 2025 – 2026.
Advocacy Initiatives
The Municipal Association board of directors adopted 12 Advocacy Initiatives for the 2025 – 2026 legislative session. Several of those initiatives are highlighted here. The rest can be found on the Municipal Association’s website.
- Allow cities and towns with no property tax millage to impose a millage with certain limitations.
Millage is the property tax rate cities and towns use to generate revenue for emergency services, police departments, infrastructure, parks and community programs. This legislation would clarify that cities and towns without an operating millage may impose a millage within certain limitations.
- Protect the authority of cities and towns to regulate short-term rentals within municipal boundaries.
Local leaders, working with residents, neighborhoods and businesses, know best how to regulate and manage the challenges presented by short-term rentals. A one-size-fits-all statewide approach to managing short-term rentals in diverse South Carolina cities and towns is not the solution. Regulation of these properties is critical for public health and safety, as well as revenue generation for local governments and the general viability of neighborhoods.
- Support efforts to help solve the liquor liability insurance burden on small businesses.
The rising cost of liquor liability insurance in South Carolina is negatively impacting small businesses and forcing businesses to close. Locally owned restaurants are a vital part of cities, offering residents a place to gather, and serving as destinations for visitors. A statewide solution is required to fix this ongoing problem for cities and towns statewide.
- Support legislation that allows retirees to return to work with no earnings cap.
Allowing retirees to return to work without an earrings cap on their retirement system benefits would help local law enforcement agencies by helping to reduce the burden of not being fully staffed. There are tremendous benefits in allowing retirees to return to work because of the collective experience and institutional knowledge they provide for less experienced officers.
Find a full list of the new Advocacy Initiatives on the Association's website. During the session, subscribe to the weekly legislative email From the Dome to Your Home and listen to the From the Dome to Your Home podcast for more updates.