Introduced

January 28, 2026

 

S. 779

 

Introduced by Senators Massey, Hutto, Zell, Devine and Adams

 

S. Printed 1/28/26--H.

Read the first time January 28, 2026

 

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A joint Resolution

 

TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEMBERS WHOSE SEATS WERE VACATED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND THE MEMBERS ELECTED TO FILL THE VACANCY; AND TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHOSE SEATS WERE VACATED DUE TO THE MEMBER BEING CONVICTED OF OR PLEADING GUILT OR NOLO CONTENDERE TO A FELONY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO A LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE PAYMENT PURSUANT TO THIS ACt.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  All members of the 126^th South Carolina General Assembly shall receive a legislative expense allowance of one thousand dollars per month. The provisions of this section are retroactive to July 1, 2025.

 

SECTION 2.  If a member of the General Assembly vacates or vacated his seat during Fiscal Year 2025-2026, then the member is entitled to receive a legislative expense allowance pursuant to Section 1 for only the months that the member served. A member elected in a special election to fill a vacancy is entitled to receive a legislative expense allowance for only those months during Fiscal Year 2025-2026 after he took the oath of office, including a pro-rated amount for the month in which he took the oath of office. A member who was convicted of, plead guilty, or plead nolo contendere to a felony during the fiscal year and prior to the effective date of this act is not entitled to receive a legislative expense allowance.

 

SECTION 3.  If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

SECTION 4.  This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor and is repealed on July 1, 2026.

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