STATE BUDGET

South Carolina operates on a yearly budget cycle. South Carolina’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 in the following year.  Between September and October, agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.  Budget hearings are held with state agencies in October.  In January, the governor submits a proposed budget to the state legislature.  The legislature adopts a budget in May. The passed budget is required to be balanced.

STATE LEGISLATURE

The state’s Legislature is comprised of 46 Senators, elected to four year terms, and 124 members of the House of Representatives, who serve two year terms.  The General Assembly is in session each year from the second Tuesday in January until the second Thursday in May; however, the session can be extended under specific circumstances.  Bills carry over from odd to even years.

KEY RESOURCES

• South Carolina General Assembly
• Office of the South Carolina Attorney General
• South Carolina Governor
• Information on Healthcare Policy in South Carolina

2025 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

South Carolina considered several bills that will roll over into 2026. H3302 prohibits insurers and healthcare providers from engaging in surprise billing. H4562 would exclude healthcare providers with 80% approval rates from prior authorization, implement more fair prior authorization medication processes, prohibit prior authorization for chronic conditions, and create continuity of care requirements. S0046 would prohibit certain contractual provisions that would interfere with physician-patient relationships or that would allow for the corporate practice of medicine.