Why It Matters
South Carolina taxpayers and residents statewide will see $350 million in new state spending take effect under the Supplemental Appropriations bill, House Bill 3305, which was signed into law. The bill became Act No. 261 and took effect Sept. 1. Beyond the spending itself, the package sets new rules for how legislator-sponsored spending, commonly called earmarks, will be handled in future budget cycles.
What the Law Does
The law makes supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026-27, directing $350 million in additional state funds. The General Assembly approved the package on Aug. 25, 2026, alongside changes governing how legislator-sponsored spending will work going forward.
The earmark rules came after a dispute between the two chambers. The House budget included more than twice the Senate's earmark spending, which senators described as unfair. Sen. Tom Davis, a member of the Senate budget negotiating committee, said future spending "should be more equal between the House and Senate." The new rules are meant to address that imbalance in future years.
By the Numbers
South Carolina has 5,296,225 residents and 2,117,989 households, according to 2024 American Community Survey five-year figures covering all ages. The state's median household income is $69,324, and 14.1 percent of residents fall below the poverty line. About one in 10 residents, 9.6 percent, lack health insurance, and 14.6 percent have a disability.
Legislative Status
Rep. Weston Newton (R-SC) sponsored the bill. The House passed it 112-0 on March 25, 2025. The Senate passed it on Aug. 25, 2026, and the House concurred in the Senate's amendments the same day, 96-15. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed the bill Sept. 1, making it Act No. 261. In a statement, McMaster said, "Today, I signed H. 3305, the Supplemental Appropriations bill, into law."
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