South CarolinaGovernor and lieutenant governor pay will follow salary commission recommendations
Starting January 20, 2027, South Carolina’s governor and lieutenant governor will have pay based on salary commission recommendations, with funding required in the yearly state budget.
What it does
For terms beginning January 20, 2027, the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s pay must follow salary commission recommendations. That pay requires funding in the yearly state budget.
Beginning January 20, 2027, the salary commission must authorize a study every four years to recommend governor and lieutenant governor pay ranges using duties and other states’ pay.
Argument forComparing job duties and pay in other states could help the commission recommend salaries that better match these officials’ responsibilities.
Argument againstRequiring yearly budget funding could leave the governor and lieutenant governor uncertain whether the commission’s recommended pay will be funded.
More detail
The governor’s and lieutenant governor’s salaries must be based on Agency Head Salary Commission recommendations to the state legislature. These rules cover South Carolina’s governor and lieutenant governor. The commission chooses pay within the recommended range, with funding required in the yearly state budget. Pay increases must follow recommendations from each agency board or commission to the salary commission and from that commission to the legislature. The salary requirement starts when the terms begin on January 20, 2027, and lasts until those terms end.
The Agency Head Salary Commission must authorize a study every four years to recommend pay ranges. The study covers South Carolina’s governor and lieutenant governor. The study must consider the officials’ job duties and responsibilities and the pay of governors and lieutenant governors in other states. The four-year study requirement begins January 20, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 5Effective date 05/19/26Latest
- Jun 3Act No. 239
- May 19Signed By Governor Henry McMasterBecame Law
- May 15Ratified R 253
- May 14Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-2
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14Read third time and enrolledTo Governor
- May 13Read second timeMinor
- May 12Recalled from Committee on Finance
- Apr 28Referred to Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 28Introduced and read first timeMinor
- Apr 24Read third time and sent to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 23Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
- Vote recorded Passage of Bill. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23Roll call Yeas-97 Nays-10
- Apr 23Read second timeMinor
- Apr 15Requests for debate-Rep(s). Pace, Frank, Edgerton, Gilreath, Cromer, Morgan, White, McCravy
- Apr 2Committee report: Favorable Ways and MeansMinor
- Jan 27Referred to Committee on Ways and MeansMinor
- Jan 27Introduced and read first timeIntroduced
Government & Ethics