State Legislative Updates

Month: May 2026

State Legislative Updates

May 18, 2026

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
In accordance with state law, the second regular session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly adjourned Sine Die at five o’clock on Thursday, May 14. Shortly thereafter, Governor McMaster issued an executive order that called both the Senate and House back into session for the purpose of addressing congressional redistricting and the budget. While most of the General Assembly’s attention is expected to be focused on these two issues, they are not limited to those topics alone.   

Notably, H.5682 (Clemson Board of Trustees) which was introduced by Representative April Cromer (R-Anderson) and Representative Lee Gilreath (R-Abbeville) was not considered prior to the close of the regular legislative session.
THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
The budget has been sent to Conference Committee to negotiate the differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill.  It is anticipated that the Conference Committee will work over the next three weeks to bring a final version to the House and Senate in mid-June.   

House conferees are House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville), Representative Davey Hiott (R-Pickens) and Representative Jackie Hayes (D-Dillon). Senate conferees are Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee), Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) and Senator Tom Davis (R-Beaufort).

For reference, the current version of the budget contains the following with impact to Clemson:

Education & General 
$6 million recurring for SC FIRST/tuition mitigation (This funding is locked) 
$4 million recurring for Clemson University National Security Institute (This funding is locked) 
$3.4 million recurring for College of Veterinary Medicine operating funds (This funding is locked)  $500,000 recurring for the Clemson University Energy Center (House 2 did not recommend funding) $1.8 million nonrecurring for Public Safety (This funding is locked)
$1 nonrecurring for NextGen Computing Complex (This allows for the amount to be negotiated in Conference Committee)
$10 million in nonrecurring for NextGen Computing Complex Science Lab Construction

Public Service and Agriculture 
$0 for Natural Resource Utilization and Planning Institute (NRUPI) (House originally recommended $1 million)
$2.5 million nonrecurring for Infrastructure and Safety Upgrades (Senate recommended $5 million)
$0 for Protecting SC’s Food Sources and Bolstering Agricultural Services (Senate recommended $750,000 recurring)
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
Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter. 

State Legislative Updates

May 12, 2026

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
There are three days remaining in this legislative session. By law, the General Assembly must adjourn sine die at 5 o’clock on Thursday, May 14 but may return to finish work on the budget or other items agreed upon by both bodies. Since this is the second year of a two-year session, bills that did not pass this session will die at the close of the session.  

With only three days remaining in the legislative session, Representatives April Cromer (R-Anderson) and Lee Gilreath (R-Abbeville) filed H.5682 (Clemson Board of Trustees). The bill has been referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee  

This bill seeks to alter the governance structure of the Clemson University Board of Trustees, set forth in the will of Thomas Green Clemson and adopted by the South Carolina legislature in 1889.  

If adopted, the legislation raises serious legal issues regarding the State’s acceptance of the terms of Thomas Green Clemson’s gift and impacts the future of Clemson University as a public institution.  
THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
Last week, the House took up the budget as amended by the Senate. The House amended the bill back to its original (with a few exceptions) version of the budget. 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 Davey Hiott (R-Pickens) and Representative Jackie Hayes (D-Dillon). Senate conferees are Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee), Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) and Senator Tom Davis (R-Beaufort).  

For reference, the “House 2” version of the budget currently contains the following with impact to Clemson:

Education & General 
$6 million recurring for SC FIRST/tuition mitigation (This funding is locked) 
$4 million recurring for Clemson University National Security Institute (This funding is locked) 
$3.4 million recurring for College of Veterinary Medicine operating funds (This funding is locked)  $500,000 recurring for the Clemson University Energy Center (House 2 did not recommend funding) $1.8 million nonrecurring for Public Safety (This funding is locked)
$1 nonrecurring for NextGen Computing Complex (This allows for the amount to be negotiated in Conference Committee)
$10 million in nonrecurring for NextGen Computing Complex Science Lab Construction

Public Service and Agriculture 
$0 for Natural Resource Utilization and Planning Institute (NRUPI) (House originally recommended $1 million)
$2.5 million nonrecurring for Infrastructure and Safety Upgrades (Senate recommended $5 million)
$0 for Protecting SC’s Food Sources and Bolstering Agricultural Services (Senate recommended $750,000 recurring)
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
Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter. 

State Legislative Updates

May 4, 2026

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
There are six days remaining in this legislative session. By law, the General Assembly must adjourn sine die at 5 o’clock on Thursday, May 14 but may return to finish work on the budget or other items agreed upon by both bodies. Since this is the second year of a two-year session, bills that did not pass this session will die at the close of the session.
THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
The House is expected to take up the Senate’s amendments to the budget this week. At that time, the House will have one more chance to offer amendments to the budget. If the Senate votes to non-concur in the House 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
Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter.