South CarolinaS 1005126th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 14-1-200, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SALARIES OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND COURT OF APPEALS, CIRCUIT COURT, AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES, SO AS TO PROVIDE A REVISED SALARY SCHEDULE FOR JUDGES.

Sponsored By: Jason Elliott (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Judicial Salaries

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New salary schedule for state judges

Beginning May 18, 2026, South Carolina sets judge pay as a share of the Associate Justice salary set in the annual budget. The Chief Justice is paid 105%. The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is paid 99%. Court of Appeals judges are paid 97.5%. Circuit Court and Family Court judges are paid 95%. The General Assembly sets the Associate Justice dollar salary in the budget, and these percentages apply to that amount.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jason Elliott

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Allen Blackmon

    Republican • Senate

  • Billy Garrett

    Republican • Senate

  • Everett Stubbs

    Republican • Senate

  • Overture Walker

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 135 • No: 21

House vote • 5/12/2026

(Judicial Salaries)Passage of Bill

Yes: 96 • No: 17

Senate vote • 4/28/2026

(Judicial Salaries)2nd Reading

Yes: 39 • No: 4 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 05/18/26

    6/5/2026legislature
  2. Act No. 182

    6/2/2026legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/18/2026Governor
  4. Ratified R 163

    5/14/2026legislature
  5. Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled

    5/13/2026House
  6. Roll call Yeas-96 Nays-17

    5/12/2026House
  7. Read second time

    5/12/2026House
  8. Committee report: Favorable Ways and Means

    5/6/2026House
  9. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

    4/30/2026House
  10. Introduced and read first time

    4/30/2026House
  11. Read third time and sent to House

    4/29/2026Senate
  12. Roll call Ayes-39 Nays-4

    4/28/2026Senate
  13. Read second time

    4/28/2026Senate
  14. Committee report: Favorable Judiciary

    4/9/2026Senate
  15. Referred to Committee on Judiciary

    3/11/2026Senate
  16. Introduced and read first time

    3/11/2026Senate

Bill Text

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