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Hotlist: February 9, 2026

Despite a late start on Tuesday due to winter weather, the Statehouse was back to normal last week, and one could dub it ‘vice week’. Among other issues, the House held an impassioned debate on regulations and bans on hemp-derived products, and the Senate wrapped up its debate on strengthening the state’s DUI laws. 

Two notable subcommittees met. The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee began hearings on Senator Davis’s Data Center Development Act, and a Senate Judiciary subcommittee continued testimony on sweeping regulatory reform proposals that could undermine fundamental regulatory protections in our state. No action was taken by either committee.

Looking ahead, this will be a big week for conservation and responsible growth at the Statehouse. 

Plenty to cover, so let’s unpack what happened last week and what’s on deck for this week!

Updates

A big week coming up for SC Prosper & Preserve 

Both chambers will hold subcommittee hearings on their versions of Concurrent Infrastructure Requirements (S.227 and H.4050), a key tool for local governments to ensure growth keeps pace with roads, water, and other infrastructure. The Senate version of the bill will be heard before a Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry Subcommittee on Wednesday, February 11th, and the House version of the bill will be up for a hearing soon before the Municipal Subcommittee of the 3M House committee. CVSC will testify and work with committee members to advance this crucial tool. 

The Senate Transferable Development Rights Bill (S.288) is still on the Senate floor and could be considered this week as well. This local tool helps direct growth to suitable areas while actively protecting land and water through a free-market system. 

Together, these two tools offer a clear path to sustainable growth that benefits communities, taxpayers, and the landscape we depend on.

Senate eyes data center regulations

South Carolina’s power grid was tested last week as extreme cold drove up demand, and one of the state’s nuclear power plants unexpectedly went offline. While blackouts were avoided, the episode highlighted ongoing concerns around reliability, affordability, and peak-demand costs for customers.

Against that backdrop, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held its first hearing on the Data Center Development Act (S.867), sponsored by Sen. Tom Davis. The bill responds to the rapid growth of this energy-intensive industry and its implications for the electric grid, customer bills, and our state’s natural resources. 

The Data Center Development Act would establish a new siting framework for data centers under the Department of Environmental Services, require transparency around water use, direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to ensure data centers bear the full cost to serve their major power requirements, as well as other ‘good neighbor’ safeguards around concerns like noise, vibration, and light. 

We view this bill as a promising step forward, though we remain concerned about its emphasis on attracting new data centers, believe the protections for existing electric customers could be strengthened, and recommend additional clarity to ensure existing environmental permitting requirements are not affected. We look forward to working with Senator Davis and committee members to address these issues to better protect ratepayers and the environment.  

Committee leaders indicated this was the first of several hearings, and initial testimony covered water use extensively, county tax incentives, and the need for greater energy efficiency efforts in our state.

The Energy Consumer Protection Bill (S.784), a related proposal introduced by Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, also addresses data center impacts while adding broader measures on energy efficiency and landowner notice in the use of eminent domain for energy infrastructure projects, and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

The broader urgency around data center siting and local impacts is reflected in a recent resolution from Colleton County lawmakers opposing a massive proposed data center in the ACE Basin watershed, which highlights concerns about appropriate locations and environmental impacts.

Continued testimony on sweeping regulatory reform proposals 

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee held another hearing with additional public testimony on the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (H.3021 and S.254). Although the committee members were broadly supportive of the bill’s intent to reduce unnecessary or outdated regulations, the practical implications and unintended consequences of the sweeping proposals continue to raise concerns.

The SC Harbor Pilots Association testified again, urging that it be exempt from the proposal, citing the proposal’s impact on port operations. Committee members raised concerns about the impact and burdens on state agencies, and about ensuring that fundamental health, safety, and environmental regulations aren’t threatened. 

Beyond health and safety concerns, the proposal’s broad scope may create unnecessary costs across dozens of agencies. For example, the H.3021 Fiscal Impact Statement indicates that the State Library anticipates nearly $200,000 in new costs despite having only two regulations. 

No action was taken on the bill, and we expect further testimony and debate in the subcommittee on the proposals. CVSC and partners will continue to work with legislators and stakeholders to ensure critical environmental, health, and safety regulations are not at risk.

Action Center

Here’s a round-up of current actions you can take to help us advance conservation policy during this legislative session. If you’ve already taken these actions, thank you! We’ll add more actions and provide updates as progress unfolds.

Highlights & Shoutouts

Last week, Palmetto Leadership Academy (PLA) fellows sharpened their parliamentary procedure skills to be able to turn ideas into action when serving on boards and commissions. Parliamentary procedure provides the foundation for structured motions, formal voting, and a clearly defined order to facilitate sound decision-making. It ensures that discussions remain focused, equitable, and productive, allowing boards to act with confidence and integrity. This essential leadership competency is among the many covered in CVSC’s PLA!

CVSC held an educational briefing about energy affordability and transparency for regulators at the Public Service Commission with Justin Schott and Tony Reames from Michigan’s Energy Equity Project. We discussed how power companies can be more transparent with customers and decision-makers, especially on customer bills. Watch the recording to learn more.  

In the News

The Legislative Hotlist is a weekly update from CVSC’s Senior Vice President of Policy & Government Relations, John Brooker. Sign up for emails to get the Hotlist delivered directly to your inbox!

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