CRMCA Legislative Update

Ben Homeyer, CRMCA SC Lobbyist

May 2026

The South Carolina General Assembly has entered the final phase of the 2026 legislative session, with lawmakers now focused on concluding budget negotiations, finalizing major infrastructure legislation, and advancing several business and regulatory reform initiatives before adjournment.

Conference committees are now central to the legislative process as the House and Senate work through remaining differences on several high-profile issues, particularly transportation modernization and the state budget.

FY26–27 State Budget

The FY26–27 state budget has now advanced into the conference committee process following passage by both chambers.

Budget negotiations continue to center around:

  • Infrastructure investment
  • Economic development
  • Tax relief
  • Workforce growth and competitiveness

Transportation and infrastructure funding remain major priorities during final negotiations.

Infrastructure Funding Highlights

Current budget discussions continue to include significant investments for:

  • Bridge repair and replacement projects statewide
  • County Transportation Committees (CTCs)
  • Interstate modernization and freight corridor improvements
  • Project acceleration and long-term infrastructure planning

Legislators also continue negotiating local infrastructure earmarks and district-level transportation projects as members position visible deliverables ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

For the concrete and construction industries, the continued emphasis on infrastructure spending signals sustained near-term project opportunities across both state and local markets.

SCDOT Modernization & Conference Committee Activity

The SCDOT Modernization legislation remains active in conference committee negotiations as lawmakers continue working through differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

The legislation continues to focus on:

  • Improving project delivery timelines
  • Increasing accountability and transparency within SCDOT
  • Strengthening coordination with local governments
  • Expanding tools for economic development-related transportation projects
  • Improving long-term infrastructure planning and delivery

The continuation of conference committee negotiations demonstrates that transportation modernization remains one of the top policy priorities for legislative leadership entering the final days of session.

Broader infrastructure discussions continue to include:

  • Load-restricted bridges
  • Freight movement efficiency
  • Rural infrastructure needs
  • Long-term resiliency and maintenance planning

For CRMCA members, the continued legislative attention on transportation investment and project acceleration remains significant given the direct impact on future concrete demand and statewide construction activity.

Iron & Steel Procurement Legislation

The Iron and Steel procurement legislation (H.4709) continues to receive significant attention late in session as stakeholders debate both the scope and long-term implications of the proposal.

The legislation was initially designed to strengthen domestic sourcing requirements for iron and steel used in certain publicly funded infrastructure projects.

Supporters argue the legislation would:

  • Promote domestic manufacturing
  • Improve supply chain reliability
  • Support American jobs and industry
  • Align state procurement standards with broader federal infrastructure policies

However, discussions have expanded beyond traditional iron and steel procurement requirements.

Several stakeholder groups continue pushing to broaden the legislation into additional construction materials and procurement categories beyond the bill’s original scope.

This potential expansion has raised concerns among infrastructure and construction industries regarding:

  • Increased project costs
  • Material availability concerns
  • Procurement delays
  • Compliance uncertainty
  • Potential impacts on project timelines and delivery schedules

Industry discussions have increasingly focused on how broader domestic sourcing mandates could impact:

  • Concrete and aggregate supply chains
  • Specialized construction materials
  • Equipment procurement
  • Ongoing transportation and bridge projects

As negotiations continue, lawmakers are still weighing whether the legislation should remain narrowly focused on iron and steel or evolve into a broader domestic materials procurement mandate with wider implications for infrastructure development statewide.

Regulatory Reform Legislation

The Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (H.3021) continues advancing and remains a major priority for Senate leadership and statewide business organizations.

The legislation seeks to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses by:

  • Requiring agencies to review existing regulations
  • Establishing expiration and review timelines
  • Increasing legislative oversight of regulations
  • Encouraging reduction of outdated or duplicative rules

Supporters continue positioning the bill as part of a broader effort to improve South Carolina’s business climate and long-term economic competitiveness.

Business Personal Property Tax Relief

Business personal property tax relief proposals also continue moving through the legislative process as lawmakers and business groups pursue additional tax relief measures.

Current discussions have focused on:

  • Exempting portions of depreciated business personal property
  • Reducing administrative burdens for small businesses
  • Improving regional economic competitiveness
  • Simplifying compliance requirements

Business organizations continue advocating for movement on these proposals as part of the broader tax reform conversation occurring during the final weeks of session.

Political & Election Environment

As the 2026 election cycle intensifies, legislative activity is increasingly being shaped by:

  • Infrastructure investment
  • Economic development messaging
  • Tax relief initiatives
  • District-level project delivery

Members remain focused on demonstrating tangible accomplishments heading into campaign season, particularly around transportation, economic growth, and visible infrastructure improvements.

Why It Matters for CRMCA

The final week of session continue to reinforce several important trends for South Carolina’s concrete and construction industries:

  • Sustained infrastructure investment remains a bipartisan priority
  • Transportation modernization efforts continue advancing
  • Road, bridge, and freight investments remain central budget priorities
  • Procurement and sourcing debates could significantly impact construction supply chains
  • Regulatory reform and tax relief remain active legislative priorities

Taken together, the continued focus on infrastructure expansion, transportation modernization, and economic competitiveness points toward continued long-term opportunities for the ready-mix concrete and construction industries across South Carolina.