Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 87F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..
Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Updated: May 27, 2026 @ 8:06 am
S.C. Statehouse in Columbia. File
Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken.
S.C. Statehouse in Columbia. File
Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken.
Dear Friends,
This year’s regular legislative session has wrapped up, but our work isn’t finished. We remain in overtime. Minutes after the regular session concluded on May 14, Governor Henry McMaster called the General Assembly into a special session, primarily to address congressional redistricting occurring in numerous states.
Most likely, you have read the news. With other states across the country aggressively redrawing congressional districts to strengthen their political influence in Washington, South Carolina cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. The recent Callais v. Louisiana decision from the U.S. Supreme Court significantly changed the legal landscape. The Court made it clear that partisan objectives and political considerations may also be factors in the process, prompting states across the country to reevaluate their maps to ensure compliance with updated constitutional standards.
As a conservative state, our goal is to ensure South Carolina continues sending strong Republican leadership to Congress to fight for lower taxes, secure borders, economic growth, and the conservative values that matter to our communities.
Debate on the House floor stretched late into the night as members discussed the future of South Carolina’s congressional districts. Republican members stood at the well, discussing how the updated map helps strengthen South Carolina’s rural communities, too often overlooked, keeps more communities of interest together, and creates greater opportunities for economic growth and representation across our state.
After hours of debate, the House passed H.5683 early Wednesday morning at 12:30 a.m. by a vote of 74-36. House Republicans remained committed to ensuring South Carolina’s voice is strengthened in Washington for years to come. The legislation moved to the Senate.
As I write this column, it is uncertain whether the Senate will pass the redistricting plan or, if it does, whether it would be judged legal because early voting for the June 9 Primary Election got underway on Tuesday morning. Stay tuned.
A year ago, I wrote that the first year of this legislative session was consequential. The same applies to the second year. I’m proud of the results we delivered this year.
This legislative session, we fought for freedom, families, and a more affordable South Carolina, passing major conservative legislation to lower taxes, improve public safety, fix our roads, strengthen schools, defend constitutional rights, and grow our economy.
From historic income tax relief to cutting red tape and investing in infrastructure, House Republicans remained focused on putting South Carolina families first and continuing to move our state in the right direction.
Together, the General Assembly passed more than 265 bills this legislative session while advancing a responsible, balanced budget that provides over $1 billion in tax relief, all without raising taxes.
We began this session with promising results, and we delivered.
The past few weeks have been incredibly busy at the State House. The House worked late into the night during the final week of session to make sure key conservative legislation made it across the finish line and onto the Governor’s desk. From protecting children and supporting law enforcement to improving schools, fixing roads, and cutting red tape, we finished the session strong and continued delivering on the promises made to South Carolina families.
Here are a few major bills recently signed into law by Governor McMaster:
SCDOT Modernization (S.831) – Speeds up road projects, reduces congestion, cuts government red tape, and modernizes transportation planning across South Carolina.
Stop Harm from Addictive Social Media (SHASM) Act (H.4591) – Protects children online through stronger parental controls and restrictions on addictive social media features targeting minors.
Pregnancy Care Tax Credit Act (S.32) – Encourages support for pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, and organizations helping mothers and families across South Carolina.
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Penalty Increase (H.4804) – Increases penalties and strengthens consequences for repeat child exploitation offenders while closing dangerous legal loopholes.
Disclosure of Intimate Images (H.3058) — Strengthens protections for victims of revenge porn and AI-generated explicit image abuse by increasing criminal penalties and holding offenders accountable.
Truth in Grading Act (H.5073) — Restores accountability in schools by ensuring grades reflect actual student performance and classroom achievement.
AI Child Abuse Protections (S.28) — Makes AI-generated child sexual abuse material illegal and gives law enforcement stronger tools to protect children and crack down on predators.
Fargo’s Law (H.3034) — Increases penalties for harming police K9s and horses that serve alongside law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
Roadside Markets Bill (H.5097) — Reduces unnecessary regulations on local farmers and makes it easier to sell fresh South Carolina-grown products.
Street Takeover Crackdown (H.4292) — Gives law enforcement stronger tools to stop dangerous street takeovers and keep our roads and communities safe.
Veterans Homes Expansion (H.4799) — Cuts red tape so veterans’ homes can expand more quickly and improve access to care for those who served our country.
Rather than taking my word in labeling this legislative session as “consequential,” here is how the policy experts at the Palmetto Promise Institute provided in their initial evaluation of legislative accomplishments:
• Education was on the front burner all session, and the sheer volume of education legislation passed was significant. At the top of that list was the passage of the bill that not only rescued the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) from a bad Supreme Court decision but also expanded school choice eligibility. The legislature also mandated the live streaming of school board meetings, banned grade floors, and cleaned up the public charter school authorizer (sponsor) section of the state code.
• Free Market & Economic Opportunity saw not only a dramatic cut in the individual income tax but further collapse of the individual brackets, and taking back control from the feds on how state tax liability is calculated. A low, flat tax—1.99% or a 0% rate—is on the way if spending can be controlled and growth sustained.
• The General Assembly called for the state-owned utility Santee Cooper to finish VC Summer Reactors 2 and 3 by turning the project over to the free market, which the utility did. It passed major legislation that chipped away at the socialistic Joint & Several Liability concept, but more must be done in 2027. Long-overdue DOT reforms were passed that should attract private investment and reduce congestion in the nation’s fastest-growing state. Regulatory freedom, which is in conference committee as of this writing, will yield expected positive results, including better review of agency regulations and a pullback from the disastrous Chevron deference.
Of course, one of my personal favorites was the passage of the Hands-Free Driving legislation that I championed for eight years. It went into full effect in late February, and there is already evidence that it is reducing wrecks, injuries and deaths.
The General Assembly has now adjourned Sine Die, officially concluding the regular legislative session for the year. However, we will return to take a final vote on the state budget for the coming fiscal year, starting July 1. We will also return to vote on various bills currently in conference committees and decide whether to override or sustain the Governor’s vetoes.
I conclude with this timely reminder. It’s time to VOTE! Early voting is underway across South Carolina and ends June 5. Four early voting polling stations will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In Aiken County, the four polling stations for early voting are: The Aiken County Government Center, 1930 University Parkway; H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road; North Augusta Community Center, 495 Bookside Ave; and Couchton Baptist Church, 3171 Wagener Road.
Historically, voter turnout in Primary Elections is dismal, with only about 15% of voters showing up in 2024. That is a missed opportunity for your voice to be heard. Because Republicans dominate state officeholders and a supermajority of state legislative districts, the Primary Election candidate is often the one who will win in the November General Election if they are opposed. Your vote counts. Show up to vote early or on Election Day, June 9.
It is an honor of a lifetime to serve the citizens of House District 86. Although I’m retiring, I’m on duty until after the November election. I am available; it’s as easy as sending me an email to Bill@TaylorSCHouse.com.
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Rep. Bill Taylor: South Carolina legislative update – Post and Courier
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