NO. 75
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The Senate assembled at 10:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned, and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.
A quorum being present, the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows:
II Chronicles 9:22
Holy Scripture reminds us that in the ancient world: "King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth."
Let us bow in prayer, please: Truly, O glorious Lord, I feel confident that not any of us would be bold enough or arrogant enough to declare that we -- like King Solomon of old -- possessed his grandiose level of wisdom, much less his wealth. Still, hardly a day passes when we do not thank You, O Lord, for the collective wisdom and the profound wealth of talent that these Senators and their staff aides all bring to their roles here in the Senate of South Carolina. And, as these leaders together take on issue after issue and problem after problem, we all are indeed grateful that they share their gifts on behalf of everyone here in our State, striving unfailingly to conscientiously make life better for all. With grateful hearts dear Lord, we so pray. Amen.
The PRESIDENT called for Petitions, Memorials, Presentments of Grand Juries and such like papers.
Senator PEELER moved that a Call of the Senate be made. The following Senators answered the Call:
Adams Alexander Allen Bennett Blackmon Bright Campsen Cash Chaplin Climer Corbin Cromer Davis Devine Elliott Fernandez Gambrell Garrett Goldfinch Graham Grooms Hembree Hutto Jackson Johnson Leber Massey Matthews Peeler Rankin Reichenbach Rice Sabb Stubbs Sutton Tedder Turner Verdin Walker Young
A quorum being present, the Senate resumed.
Senators OTT and KIMBRELL recorded their presence subsequent to the Call of the Senate.
On motion of Senator PEELER, the Senate agreed that if and when the Senate stands adjourned today, it will adjourn to meet tomorrow Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 2:00 P.M.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Adams Alexander Bennett Blackmon Bright Campsen Cash Climer Corbin Cromer Davis Elliott Fernandez Gambrell Garrett Goldfinch Grooms Johnson Kennedy Kimbrell Leber Peeler Rankin Reichenbach Rice Turner Verdin Young
Allen Chaplin Devine Graham Hembree Hutto Jackson Massey Matthews Ott Sabb Stubbs Sutton Tedder Walker
The motion was adopted.
On motion of Senator JACKSON, at 10:14 A.M., Senator WILLIAMS was granted a leave of absence for today.
Senator JACKSON rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.
On motion of Senator CASH, with unanimous consent, the remarks of Senator JACKSON, when reduced to writing and made available to the Desk, would be printed in the Journal.
Senator RANKIN rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.
THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO H. 5683 - REDISTRICTING OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICTS
H. 5683 (Word version) -- Reps. Rankin, Pace, C. Mitchell, Cromer, Gilreath, Bustos, Magnuson, Edgerton, Burns, Oremus, Bailey, Guest, Brittain, Chumley, J.E. Johnson, Haddon, Jordan, Lawson, Lowe, McGinnis, B. Newton, W. Newton, G.M. Smith, White, Willis and McCravy: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 7-19-35 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE ELECTED; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 7-19-45 RELATING TO ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WERE FORMERLY ELECTED.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.
Senators HUTTO, JACKSON, SABB, WILLIAMS, ALLEN, MATTHEWS, TEDDER, DEVINE, GRAHAM, OTT, SUTTON and WALKER proposed the following amendment (LC-5683.AHB0083S), which was withdrawn:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
SECTION X. In conducting the 2026 Congressional redistricting, notwithstanding any other provision of law, any implementation of changes to congressional district boundaries shall be undertaken in a manner that allows sufficient time to avoid voter confusion and ensure orderly election administration.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator CAMPSEN spoke on the amendment.
On motion of Senator CASH, with unanimous consent, the remarks of Senator CAMPSEN, when reduced to writing and made available to the Desk, would be printed in the Journal.
Senator CAMPSEN spoke on the amendment.
Senator GROOMS spoke on the amendment.
At 1:04 P.M., Senator GROOMS moved under the provisions of Rule 15B that debate on the entire matter of H. 5683 be brought to a close.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Adams Alexander Blackmon Bright Cash Chaplin Climer Corbin Cromer Elliott Fernandez Gambrell Garrett Goldfinch Grooms Johnson Kennedy Kimbrell Leber Peeler Reichenbach Rice Stubbs Turner Verdin Young
Allen Bennett Campsen Davis Devine Graham Hembree Hutto Jackson Massey Matthews Ott Rankin Sabb Sutton Tedder Walker Zell
The motion was adopted.
At 1:09 P.M., on motion of Senator GROOMS, the Senate receded from business.
At 2:17 P.M., the Senate resumed.
Senator OTT asked unanimous consent to proceed to Amendment No. 26A.
Senator OTT proposed the following amendment (LC-5683.HDB0139S), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 4, by adding a subsection to read:
(I) Any person who votes in the June statewide primary or runoff election for one party shall not vote in the August special primary for a different party.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator OTT explained the amendment.
Senator GROOMS moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Adams Alexander Bennett Blackmon Bright Campsen Cash Chaplin Climer Corbin Cromer Davis Elliott Fernandez Gambrell Garrett Goldfinch Grooms Hembree Hutto Johnson Kennedy Kimbrell Leber Massey Peeler Rankin Reichenbach Rice Stubbs Turner Verdin Young Zell
Allen Devine Graham Matthews Ott Sabb Sutton Tedder Walker
The amendment was laid on the table.
Senator SUTTON asked unanimous consent to proceed to Amendment No. 9A.
Senator SUTTON proposed the following amendment (LC-5683.HDB0136S), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 4, by adding a subsection to read:
(I)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 15, Title 7 of the S.C. Code, any voter who casts an absentee ballot in the June statewide primaries must be issued absentee ballots for the special primaries and special primary runoffs without being required to submit additional absentee ballot applications or otherwise comply with any additional requirements.
(2) Each county board of voter registration and elections shall issue absentee ballots for the special primaries and special primary runoffs to the same address each voter requested to receive an absentee ballot for the June statewide primaries unless a voter timely specifies a different address.
(3) The absentee ballots issued to each voter under this subsection must be for the same political party's special primary and runoff as the voter participated in during the June statewide primaries unless the voter timely requests to receive an absentee ballot for another party's special primary and runoff.
(J) The State Election Commission shall transmit with overseas ballots for the special primaries held on August 18, 2026, for the seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to be voted on in the November 3, 2026, general election a notice that explains why the recipient is receiving an additional ballot and that a vote the recipient cast previously for U.S. House of Representatives in the June primary election was not counted.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator SUTTON explained the amendment.
Senator GROOMS spoke on the amendment.
Senator GROOMS moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Adams Alexander Blackmon Bright Cash Chaplin Climer Corbin Cromer Elliott Fernandez Gambrell Garrett Goldfinch Grooms Johnson Kennedy Kimbrell Leber Peeler Reichenbach Rice Turner Verdin Young Zell
Allen Bennett Campsen Davis Devine Graham Hembree Hutto Jackson Massey Matthews Ott Rankin Sabb Stubbs Sutton Tedder Walker
The amendment was laid on the table.
On motion of Senator MASSEY, with unanimous consent, the Senate agreed that all amendments currently on the desk were withdrawn; that after a successful roll call vote on second reading, the provisions of Rule 26B were waived for third reading; that the Senate would meet under the provisions of Rule 1B on Sunday, May 24, 2026, and Monday, May 25, 2026, with those days counting as statewide session days for debate on H. 5683; and further, that the Senate would meet in statewide session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
The question then was second reading of the Bill.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Adams Alexander Blackmon Bright Cash Chaplin Climer Corbin Cromer Elliott Fernandez Gambrell Garrett Goldfinch Grooms Johnson Kennedy Kimbrell Leber Peeler Reichenbach Rice Stubbs Turner Verdin Young Zell
Allen Bennett Campsen Davis Devine Graham Hembree Hutto Jackson Massey Matthews Ott Rankin Sabb Sutton Tedder Walker
There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Senate agreed to stand adjourned.
At 3:24 P.M., on motion of Senator MASSEY, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 A.M., under the provisions of Rule 1B.
This web page was last updated on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 4:01 P.M.