House adopts Ways and Means budget bills; chairman defends $1 billion in direct tax relief

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House on March 12 approved two Ways and Means budget measures on third reading, adopting House Bill 4025 and House Bill 4026 (Capital Reserve Fund).

Representative Bannister, Ways and Means chairman, delivered an extended statement defending the budget’s fiscal approach and outlining what he described as a mix of tax relief and targeted investments. "We put $1,500 in salary for teachers," Bannister said, adding that the budget includes $50 million in tuition mitigation and funding for roads, water and sewer projects.

The bills were called on the calendar and taken on third reading. House Bill 4025 was adopted after a roll-call requirement was noted; the clerk announced the ayes had it. House Bill 4026, described on the calendar as the Capital Reserve Fund, was also adopted on third reading with the ayes prevailing.

In remarks to the chamber, Bannister framed the vote as part of a broader fiscal strategy. He cited population and economic growth, saying South Carolina has attracted new industry and jobs: "$52,800,000,000 in capital investments, a 21,000 new jobs over the last 10 years," and he pointed to longer-term increases in employment and wages. He said the state has returned revenue to taxpayers over time, stating, "Over the last 30 years, this body has provided approximately $50,000,000,000 in tax relief to the citizens of the state of South Carolina." Bannister described the current package as about $1 billion in direct tax relief this year, of which he said $200 million is income tax relief and $800 million is property tax relief.

Bannister also highlighted programmatic and infrastructure allocations in the budget text as read aloud: a $50 million tuition mitigation fund intended to stabilize college costs, $18 million for infant and child safety and well-being programs, $200 million for roads and bridges, and $20 million for statewide water and sewer projects. He described investments in a neurological treatment, surgery and rehabilitation center and said teacher compensation has increased under recent budgets.

The chamber completed several routine recognition items earlier in the session and later adopted a motion setting the next regular statewide session for Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at noon. The House adjourned after the Ways and Means business concluded.

The session included procedural steps tied to the third-reading process; the transcript records that a roll call was required for at least one adoption but does not provide individual vote tallies in the public remarks captured.