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Senate advances dozens of measures; state song, consumer-disclosure and other bills move forward
Summary
During a long calendar day the South Carolina Senate gave third or second readings to many bills, adopted amendments on advertising and seafood labeling, recorded a 42-0 roll call on a state anthem bill, and carried over high-profile proposals including a digital driver's-license measure for further amendment work.
The South Carolina Senate on May 5, 2026, moved a large number of bills through second and third reading, adopted multiple committee amendments and floor amendments, and recorded at least one roll-call vote. The chamber also carried over several measures for further work.
Notable actions included a roll-call on H3949 (designation of a choral anthem), which the clerk recorded as 42–0 in favor after second reading. Sponsors on the floor praised the cultural recognition while senators asked procedural and lyric-related questions before recording the vote.
On consumer protections and food labeling, senators debated and adopted amendments to a disclosure bill that would require sellers to identify the origin of raw shrimp sold in South Carolina and give the state enforcement authority; sponsors argued this would ensure restaurants and vendors cannot label imported product as 'local.' A related amendment expanded advertising-transparency requirements for certain types of promotional material and was adopted as part of the floor package.
The Senate also considered a bill to allow state motor-vehicle agencies to issue digital driver’s licenses. The bill’s sponsor and committee members discussed security and scanning procedures; senators asked whether AI-based forgery had been considered. The sponsor said digital credentials would use encrypted methods similar to secure mobile-payment systems and that the bill had been carried over to allow an amendment to be drafted.
Other measures given third reading and advanced included a wide array of education, health and regulatory bills (examples: S385—Women’s Childbirth Alternatives Resources and Education Care Act; S822—deed-theft felony for real estate fraud; multiple committee reports approving appointments and regulations). Several resolutions honoring individuals and designating days or months were adopted by voice vote or unanimous consent.
What happened next: many bills were carried over for further amendment or placed on the calendar for additional consideration in the remaining legislative days; no omnibus final dispositions for multi-chamber measures were recorded in this session’s transcript.
