Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

April 2, 2026

 

H. 5018

 

Introduced by Rep. G. M. Smith

 

S. Printed 4/2/26--H.

Read the first time January 27, 2026

 

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The committee on House Ways and Means

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 5018) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 1-1-1210, relating to annual salaries of certain state officers, so as to provide that salaries of the, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

B.W. BANNISTER for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill provides that salaries for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor must be based on recommendations of the AHSC. The current salaries for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor were last changed on July 1, 1994, and are $106,078 for the Governor and $46,545 for the Lieutenant Governor. Under the bill, the AHSC must authorize a study to be conducted every four years to recommend a salary range for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor based on their job duties and responsibilities as well as the pay of governors and lieutenant governors in other states. The bill provides that beginning when the terms of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor commence on January 20, 2027, and lasting until the terms conclude, salaries for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor must be based on recommendations from the commission.

The Governor's Office indicates that the impact will depend on future salary recommendations of the AHSC for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The office anticipates that any increase in salary expenditures beginning in FY 2026-27 will be managed by current resources or, depending on the salary, may require additional General Fund appropriations.

 

SFAA indicates that the requirements of the AHSC under this bill will take place under normal commission and agency operations. Therefore, this bill will have no impact on SFAA.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 1-1-1210, RELATING TO ANNUAL SALARIES OF CERTAIN STATE OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SALARIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST BE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-160, RELATING TO THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION AND SALARY INCREASES FOR AGENCY HEADS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SALARIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST BE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO AUTHORIZE A STUDY EVERY FOUR YEARS TO RECOMMEND SALARY RANGES FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-165, RELATING TO THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION AND ITS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 1-1-1210 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 1-1-1210.  (A) The annual salaries of the state officers listed below are:

30	Governor	$98,000
31	Lieutenant Governor	43,000
32	Secretary of State	85,000
33	State Treasurer	85,000
34	Attorney General	85,000
35	Comptroller General	85,000
36	Superintendent of Education	85,000
37	Adjutant General	85,000
38	Commissioner of Agriculture	85,000

 

    (B) These salaries must be increased by two percent on July 1, 1991, and on July first of each succeeding year through July 1, 1994.

    (C) A state officer whose salary is provided in this section may not receive compensation for ex officio service on any state board, committee, or commission.

    (D) Beginning with Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and beginning when the state officer's term commences and lasting until the term concludes, with the exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, salaries for the state officers listed in subsection (A) must be based on recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly as provided in Sections 8-11-160 and 8-11-165.

    (E) Beginning when the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's terms commence on January 20, 2027, and lasting until the terms conclude, salaries for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor must be based on recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly as provided in Sections 8-11-160 and 8-11-165.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 8-11-160 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 8-11-160.  (A) All boards and commissions are required to submit justification of an agency head's performance and salary recommendations to the Agency Head Salary Commission.

    (B) This commission consists of four appointees of the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, four appointees of the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and three appointees of the Governor with experience in executive compensation.

    (C) Beginning with Fiscal Year 2022-2023:

       (1) salaries for the term of state officers listed in Section 1-1-1210(A), with the exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, must be based on recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly; and

       (2) the Agency Head Salary Commission shall authorize a study be conducted every four years to recommend a salary range for each state constitutional officer, with the exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, based on their job duties and responsibilities as well as the pay of state constitutional officers in other states.

    (D) Beginning January 20, 2027, salaries for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor must be based on recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly, and the commission shall authorize a study to be conducted every four years to recommend a salary range for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor based on their job duties and responsibilities as well as the pay of governors and lieutenant governors in other states.

    (D)(E) Salary increases for agency heads, the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor must be based on recommendations by each agency board or commission to the Agency Head Salary Commission and their recommendations to the General Assembly.

 

SECTION 3.  Section 8-11-165(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (A) It is the intent of the General Assembly that:

       (1) A salary and fringe benefit survey for agency heads must be conducted by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority every four years.  The staff of the authority shall serve as the support staff to the Agency Head Salary Commission.

       (2) Beginning with the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and every four years thereafterEvery four years, the Agency Head Salary Commission shall commission a study to recommend a salary range for the term of each state constitutional officer listed in Section 1-1-1210, with the exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, based on each state constitutional officer's job duties and responsibilities as well as the pay of other state constitutional officers in other states. The commission shall then determine a salary for the term of each such state constitutional officer within the recommended pay range subject to funding being provided in the annual appropriations act.

 

SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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