Month: May 2025

State Legislative Updates

May 27, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Both the House and Senate will return tomorrow to consider and adopt the budget Conference report. Details on the budget are included below.

THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS

Last week, the Conference Committee on the budget adopted a conference report. Clemson received the higher of the two versions for each appropriation.   The Clemson specific items are as follows: Clemson E&G Recurring: $12.2 million in recurring funding for in state tuition mitigation $4 million in recurring funding for Student Experiential Learning $4 million in recurring funding for the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism $500,000 in recurring funding for the Clemson Energy Center  Clemson E&G Nonrecurring: $40 million in nonrecurring funding for the NextGen Computing Complex $4 million in nonrecurring funding for Maintenance, Renovation and Replacement Clemson PSA Recurring: $600,000 in recurring funding for Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support  $1 million in recurring funding for Food Safety and Nutrition Agents $500,000 in recurring funding for Critical Vehicles & Equipment​  Clemson PSA Nonrecurring: $3 million in nonrecurring funding for Planned Maintenance and Critical Infrastructure  The budget also includes a 2% base pay increase for classified employees of institutions of higher education. It also contains language that allows flexibility to reward unclassified employees with merit-based increases. The budget conference report included an increase in the cost of health insurance contributions for state employees and employers. The state will pay for the employee portion and the university will be responsible for the employer portion.     The budget conference report contained several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University: $10 million in nonrecurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of instructors in nursing schools Over $3.5 million in nonrecurring lottery dollars for the College Transition Programs (ClemsonLIFE), which provide scholarships for South Carolina residents with intellectual disabilities to complete a postsecondary education program, which includes academic coursework and career exploration, thereby preparing them for independent living and employment. An additional $695,000 in recurring funds for Call Me Mister, which brings the total annual state investment in this program to $1,195,000.

BILLS OF INTEREST

We will provide a detailed update on legislative action in our next legislative update.

NEWS & FYI

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State Legislative Update

May 12, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA In accordance with state law, the General Assembly adjourned sine die at 5 o’clock on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Per the terms of the sine die resolution, the House and Senate may return to finish work only on the budget.   Since this is the first year of a two-year session, bills that did not pass this session will retain their current status and be carried over to the 2026 session. THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS The House amended the budget back to its original version of the budget (with a few exceptions) and returned it to the Senate, which voted to nonconcur in the House amendments. The bill now goes to conference committee.  House conferees are House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville), Representative Lee Hewitt (R-Georgetown) and Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston). Senate conferees are Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler Clemson ‘70 (R-Cherokee), Senate President Thomas Alexander Clemson ’78 (R-Oconee) and Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland).   It is expected that the Conference Committee will meet the week of May 19th to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate versions.   The two bodies are aiming to come back to consider the conference report on the budget on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.  BILLS OF INTEREST There are three bills that the Governmental Affairs team has been actively working on that saw final action last week. They are as follows:    Energy Earlier this week, the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed H.3309 (South Carolina Energy Security Act). The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. Clemson’s Energy Center was included in previous versions of this legislation, but the final bill removed specific references to ALL institutions of higher learning and created a Nuclear Advisory Council at SC Nexus at the SC Department of Commerce.    Tort Reform After several weeks of intense negotiations, the House and Senate came to a compromise amendment on tort reform. The bill has been referred to as “liquor liability plus” as it incorporates the liquor liability provisions the House initially addressed and several of the provisions of S.244, which was the Senate’s comprehensive tort reform bill. The compromise provides bars, restaurants and other entities’ options and requirements for reducing minimum insurance coverage for serving alcohol. The bill also creates a new section aimed at tightly regulating the sale of beer and wine at collegiate sporting events.    Golf Carts H.3292, a bill reforming the use of golf carts on public highways is also headed to the Governor’s desk. This bill gives municipalities or counties the ability to set ordinances that stipulate the hours, methods, and locations of golf cart operations, including nighttime operations of golf carts. The bill also sets default standards for the operation of golf carts in the absence of a specific ordinance by the local governing body.  NEWS & FYI Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter.

State Legislative Updates

May 5, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA

There are three days remaining in the legislative session. By law, the General Assembly must adjourn sine die at 5 o’clock on Thursday, May 8 but may return to finish work on the budget or other items agreed upon by both bodies. Since this is the first year of a two-year session, bills that did not pass this session will retain their current status and be carried over to the 2026 session.   Last week, the Senate confirmed Myra Reece Clemson ’80 to head the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS

The House is expected to take up the Senate’s amendments to the budget this week. If the House votes to non-concur in the Senate amendments, a conference committee will be appointed to negotiate the differences in the House and Senate versions.

BILLS OF INTEREST

The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have a potential impact on Clemson.   A complete listing of these bills may be found here: VIEW BILLS.

NEWS & FYI

Last week marked the annual Plant Presentation Day on the State House steps for South Carolina FFA and the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators.  During the ceremony, Governor McMaster signed H. 3247 into law. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Patrick Haddon (R-Greenville), allows school districts to excuse absences when students participate in work-based learning experiences, including, but not limited to Future Farmers of America and 4H.          Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter.