South Carolina General Assembly Concludes 2025 Session with Mixed Results
Columbia, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina General Assembly concluded its regular 2025 session on Thursday, achieving some legislative progress but leaving key issues unresolved. Notable accomplishments included a bill aimed at alleviating soaring insurance rates for restaurants serving liquor and a measure to address rising energy demands by allowing private utilities to collaborate on new power projects.
Lawmakers also passed a controversial bill enabling public funds to be used for private school tuition, despite a previous downfall due to constitutional concerns. This session notably marked the first of a two-year legislative cycle; hence, all unresolved bills will remain pending until January 2026.
However, significant issues such as the fate of State Treasurer Curtis Loftis remain contentious. The Senate approved a motion to remove him due to a $1.8 billion accounting error, but the proposal stalled in the House, with Speaker Murrell Smith stating that voters should ultimately decide Loftis’s position.
Additionally, efforts toward hate crimes legislation and medical marijuana legalization faced stagnation, highlighting a lack of momentum amid the Republican supermajority. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto noted that this year’s legislative output would likely not be remembered for its transformative impact.
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