As the gavel fell at 5 pm last Thursday, the House officially adjourned, bringing the first year of the 2025-2026 Legislative Session to a close.
Although the regular session has now adjourned, the House is expected to reconvene later this month for one final day to finalize the state budget.
I’m honored to be appointed by House Speaker Murrell Smith as one of the three budget conference committee members to work out the budget bill differences with the Senate.
This week was a final sprint to the finish to advance several key priorities.
As a cosponsor, I was glad to see H.4216, a strong, conservative plan to cut income taxes, pass the House on Wednesday.
This bill puts us on the path to eliminate the state income tax altogether without raising property or sales taxes and devotes more than $400 million in year one to immediate tax relief. It lowers the top marginal rate from 6.2% to 5.39%, with a roadmap to reduce that to 1.99% over five years and ultimately eliminate it entirely.
Small businesses across South Carolina, especially bars, restaurants, and VFW posts, have faced unsustainable insurance premiums and the looming threat of massive jury verdicts. I was proud to cosponsor H.3430, a landmark liquor liability bill that will bring real reform and help protect our hospitality industry. The bill was passed by the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday. It now heads to the Gov. McMaster to be signed into law.
The South Carolina Energy Security Act, another bill I cosponsored, passed the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the Governor for his signature. It lays the foundation for a stronger, more reliable energy future, ensuring smarter oversight of utilities, encouraging investment in nuclear and renewable energy, and expands transmission and storage
capacity.
I proudly voted for S.156, critical legislation, which creates the offense of fentanyl-induced homicide, making it a felony to unlawfully provide fentanyl that results in someone’s death. The fentanyl crisis is devastating families across our state. This bill ensures justice for victims and holds drug dealers accountable for the lives they destroy.
I voted in favor of the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, which updates our distracted driving statute by increasing penalties for repeat offenders. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of preventable accidents. This bill helps save lives while respecting individual rights.
I’m proud to report we made major strides on every single one of our Pillars for Progress this session.
I’ll be sure to provide an update on the budget bill once the conference committee’s work is complete.
I’m honored to represent District 108. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt