All Roll Calls
Yes: 138 • No: 12
South CarolinaH 5018126th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 1-1-1210, RELATING TO ANNUAL SALARIES OF CERTAIN STATE OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SALARIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST BE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-160, RELATING TO THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION AND SALARY INCREASES FOR AGENCY HEADS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SALARIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST BE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO AUTHORIZE A STUDY EVERY FOUR YEARS TO RECOMMEND SALARY RANGES FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-165, RELATING TO THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION AND ITS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
Sponsored By: G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Agency Head Salary Commission, Governor and Lt. Governor
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Commission sets Governor and Lieutenant Governor pay
Beginning January 20, 2027, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s salaries are set using the Agency Head Salary Commission’s recommendations to the General Assembly. The rule applies for the full term that starts on that date. Starting the same date, the Commission studies their pay every four years, compares duties and pay in other states, and sends a recommended range to lawmakers.
Commission sets pay for state officers
Starting in fiscal year 2022-2023, pay for the Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Comptroller General, Superintendent of Education, Adjutant General, and Agriculture Commissioner is based on the Agency Head Salary Commission’s recommendations to the General Assembly. The rule applies when a new term begins and lasts through that term. Every four years, the Commission starts a study to set a recommended pay range for each office, using duties and pay in other states. Raises must follow a set path: the agency board recommends, the Commission reviews, and the General Assembly decides. This does not cover the Governor or Lieutenant Governor until 2027.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/14/2026
(Agency Head Salary Commission, Governor and Lt. Governor)3rd Reading
Yes: 41 • No: 2
House vote • 4/23/2026
(Agency Head Salary Commission, Governor and Lt. Governor)Passage of Bill
Yes: 97 • No: 10
Actions Timeline
Effective date 05/19/26
6/5/2026legislatureAct No. 239
6/3/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
5/19/2026GovernorRatified R 253
5/15/2026legislatureRoll call Ayes-41 Nays-2
5/14/2026SenateRead third time and enrolled
5/14/2026SenateRead second time
5/13/2026SenateRecalled from Committee on Finance
5/12/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Finance
4/28/2026SenateIntroduced and read first time
4/28/2026SenateRead third time and sent to Senate
4/24/2026HouseUnanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
4/23/2026HouseRoll call Yeas-97 Nays-10
4/23/2026HouseRead second time
4/23/2026HouseRequests for debate-Rep
4/15/2026HouseCommittee report: Favorable Ways and Means
4/2/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Ways and Means
1/27/2026HouseIntroduced and read first time
1/27/2026House
Bill Text
Introduced
Related Bills
S 0623, AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO INSTEAD ENFORCE AE STANDARDS IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY'S FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE.
Georgetown County Building Requirements
S 0586, AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SHALL RECEIVE NINETY DOLLARS FOR EACH MEETING AT WHICH HE IS IN ATTENDANCE AND THAT THE CHAIRMAN SHALL RECEIVE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL NOT OCCUR MORE THAN EIGHTEEN TIMES EACH FISCAL YEAR.
Kershaw County Transportation Committee
H 5653, AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD BY WHICH PERSONS FILE TO BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD, THE MANNER IN WHICH BOARD ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH VACANCIES ON THE BOARD ARE FILLED; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
Lee County School District Board of Trustees
S 1062, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO DETERMINATION OF RATES OF TUITION AND FEES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 5443, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.
JR to Approve Reg. Doc. No. 5443
S 0779, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEMBERS WHOSE SEATS WERE VACATED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND THE MEMBERS ELECTED TO FILL THE VACANCY; AND TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHOSE SEATS WERE VACATED DUE TO THE MEMBER BEING CONVICTED OF OR PLEADING GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDERE TO A FELONY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO A LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PAYMENT PURSUANT TO THIS JOINT RESOLUTION.
Legislative Expense Allowance
H 5261, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING AS PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 3, TITLE 61 TO MAY 1, 2026.
Alcohol Server Training