All Roll Calls
Yes: 636 • No: 3
Sponsored By: Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms (Republican)
Signed by Governor
SCDOT Modernization
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18 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 13 mixed.
You can report potholes by phone, website, or a free mobile app. DOT must publish the app within one year. DOT must fix reported potholes within seven days, with permanent repairs unless emergencies or weather require a temporary patch. The state sets aside $15 million each year for full‑depth repairs of repeat potholes. This starts January 1, 2027.
The state can sell bonds paid only from choice lane tolls, with maturities up to 40 years, and only if revenues are expected to cover payments. Beginning July 1, 2027, interest on these bonds is free from South Carolina taxes, and choice lane facilities are not subject to property taxes. Executors, guardians, and public fund managers may invest in these bonds.
South Carolina limits new tolls. They are allowed only by the legislature, on choice lanes, or with JBRC/SFAA approval, and only on added lanes. Tolls in place on January 1, 2026 continue. Beginning July 1, 2027, SCDOT must find a project feasible before using usage charges; those funds go to the State Highway Fund and can pay project debt and upkeep under an agreement. Unpaid trips face notices, up to $10 for a first violation and up to $25 later, and up to a $50 civil penalty if a court finds liability; DMV may suspend registration for unpaid judgments, and photo or video is admissible. Not paying may be a misdemeanor (fine up to $200), and DOT may place a lien or take the vehicle. You get protections: privacy for electronic toll accounts, required delinquency notice, defenses for stolen cars and leases, and no owner liability if the driver is convicted. The state may enforce out‑of‑state tolls only through reciprocal deals that give due process and let you submit evidence remotely.
State highway bonds may be issued for county “C” fund projects; the county committee applies to SCDOT and the State Treasurer for SFAA review. Beginning July 1, 2027, SCDOT withholds C funds from noncompliant counties and, after 24 months, counties forfeit 50% of the next year’s share. Counties that run their own C funds must use competitive sealed bids, advertise work, and publish bid summaries. Bids over $100,000 need certified bid bonds, and winning contractors must provide 100% performance and payment bonds.
SCDOT now picks and ranks projects in the statewide plan using set factors like safety, congestion, truck traffic, costs, and local plans. Beginning July 1, 2027, if a county fully funds a project that SCDOT certifies from its priority list within 90 days, the next project in that county moves up to take its place. This reprioritization does not apply to closed, load‑posted, or structurally deficient bridges.
DOT can partner with private and public groups to plan, build, finance, and operate roads, bridges, and transit. Contracts may use availability or milestone payments and set clear rules for how project money is used. DOT can seek grants, loans, bond approvals, and help form nonprofits to borrow for projects. DOT may use best value, two-step shortlisting, and confidential meetings to pick partners.
DOT can skip parts of the state procurement code for many road, bridge, and right‑of‑way needs and related technology. The Department of Public Safety can also buy emergency vehicle parts and repairs outside normal procurement rules. These changes can speed urgent purchases and affect how vendors compete.
DOT may use phased design-build or a construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) for highway work. The team helps with preconstruction and can build if a guaranteed maximum price is set. An independent third party must estimate costs before signing a construction contract. Key procurements get Joint Bond Review Committee review opportunities and post-project reporting.
At least 33% of each county’s C funds must go to state highway work, with the Secretary’s approval. Counties can use C funds for bonds, project costs, and to match federal funds, but carryforward balances are capped at 300% of the latest apportionment. Donor counties get $17 million each year in proportional transfers, plus up to $3.5 million more statewide. The Department of Revenue must report county gasoline shares by May 1 each year, and counties must report project spending for an annual statewide report.
Before advertising a public‑private deal, SCDOT must send the solicitation to the Joint Bond Review Committee for review. SCDOT must adopt partnership rules first and may sign interstate agreements only after JBRC review. Proposed contracts must be filed with the Secretary of State; after 20 days, new legal challenges are barred. Deals can run up to 60 years, and private partners must post performance and payment security; DOT may accept less than the full contract amount if protection is adequate. SCDOT must notify JBRC within 30 days after signing a deal, file an annual status report, and may hold project funds in trustee accounts.
DOT must prepare a statewide transportation plan that looks at least 20 years ahead. It must follow federal law and involve planning groups across the state. The plan can be updated as federal rules allow.
DOT’s chief internal auditor must be a CPA, certified internal auditor, or certified fraud examiner. The State Auditor manages this role and sets the salary. Internal audits must follow government standards, cover the whole DOT, and be posted online. An independent performance audit is required every four years, with the first report due January 15, 2028.
County transportation committees must post members and a county plan online, update the plan every four years, and meet at least twice a year. Officials and employees are under the State Ethics Act, and bribery is a felony with up to five years in prison and a lifetime bar from public office. Members get legal immunity for acts within official duties. Starting July 1, 2027, delegations can shift appointments to county councils or rename committees. Counties can appeal proposed C‑fund withholdings on a 60/90/30‑day timeline.
DOT and private partners can set and collect usage charges on choice lanes, including dynamic prices. Bills can use photo monitoring and cashless billing by mail or license plate. School buses carrying children for school events do not pay these tolls.
For roads moved to local control after July 2026, DOT must approve any new local load, weight, speed, or vehicle‑class limits before they take effect. This rule does not apply to older transfers.
The state consents to certain federal-court suits tied to DOT’s NEPA duties, but only after specific agreements and approvals. If South Carolina applies to take on NEPA reviews, DOT must publish a NEPA Manual after a 30-day public comment period. DOT must post a yearly report on time savings, money impacts, and lawsuits. Agency heads must coordinate with DOT to speed permits and decisions.
The Governor now appoints the Secretary of Transportation, with Senate approval. The sitting Secretary stays until a successor is confirmed. On January 1, 2027, the DOT Commission is abolished and the Secretary becomes the department’s governing authority. The Secretary sets policy, runs daily operations, and takes over the commission’s duties. Prior laws creating the commission are repealed.
The Secretary of Transportation sits on the Infrastructure Bank board. The Governor and legislative leaders appoint other members, and terms match their appointing officials. A subsection of the bank statute is deleted as a conforming change.
Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Republican • Senate
Sean M. Bennett
Republican • Senate
Darrell Jackson
Democrat • Senate
Josh Kimbrell
Republican • Senate
Ed Sutton
Democrat • Senate
All Roll Calls
Yes: 636 • No: 3
Senate vote • 5/12/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)to adopt the conference report
Yes: 43 • No: 0
House vote • 5/12/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)Adopt Conference Report
Yes: 112 • No: 2
House vote • 4/30/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)Passage of Bill
Yes: 108 • No: 0
House vote • 4/30/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)Passage of Bill
Yes: 108 • No: 0
House vote • 4/29/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)Passage of Bill
Yes: 114 • No: 0
House vote • 4/29/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)Passage of Bill
Yes: 114 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/19/2026
(SCDOT Modernization)3rd Reading
Yes: 37 • No: 1
Effective date See Act for Effective Date
Act No. 177
Signed By Governor
Ratified R 156
Enrolled for Ratification
Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
Conference report received and adopted
Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-2
Conference report received and adopted
House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Bannister, Erickson, Brewer
Senate insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Grooms, Bennett, Walker
Roll call Yeas-108 Nays-0
Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
Amended
Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0
Read second time
Amended
Debate adjourned
Requests for debate-Rep
Scrivener's error corrected
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways and Means
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
Introduced and read first time
Roll call Ayes-37 Nays-1
Read third time and sent to House
Introduced
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 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
H 5127, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE MONIES FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, AND TO ALLOW UNEXPENDED FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEARS AND EXPENDED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES.
Capital Reserve Fund appropriation
S 1162, AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 509 OF 1982, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF TRUSTEES OF ANDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SIX MEMBERS OF THE SEVEN-MEMBER GOVERNING BODY MUST BE ELECTED FROM SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.
Anderson County School District No. 2
S 0769, A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUING AUTHORITY TO PAY THE EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT IF THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR BEGINS WITHOUT A GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 HAVING BEEN ENACTED, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.
Continuing Resolution
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