The 126th South Carolina General Assembly’s second regular session began on January 13, 2026, prioritizing education funding, stricter DUI laws, data center regulations, and abortion restrictions. Lawmakers aim to address teacher pay raises and school staffing shortages early, alongside infrastructure and tax reforms.​
Key Legislative Priorities
Teacher compensation and recruitment top the agenda to combat shortages in public schools. A DUI bill seeks to close offender loopholes and increase penalties for safer highways. Governor McMaster proposed $1.1 billion more for roads and a state income tax cut from 6% to 5.9%.​
Data Center Regulations
State Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort advocates rules for AI-driven facilities, including minimized water use, distance from sensitive areas, self-funded power, and controls on light/noise pollution. These aim to protect rural counties from poor site decisions despite tax revenue gains. No specific bill numbers are confirmed yet for this session.​​
Abortion Debate
The “Heartbeat Bill” targets mail-order abortions, building on prior restrictions amid concerns over medication influx. Bipartisan support may advance it quickly, though controversy persists. The session ends May 14, 2026, pressuring action on carryover bills.​
