James Burns

SB 103 requires transparent labeling of cell-cultivated or lab-grown food products. CPAC believes that producers should label their products accurately. Lab-grown cell products are not real meat, so CPAC supports this bill. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed SB 103 on May 1, 2025, in a 109-0 vote, and Governor Henry McMaster signed the measure into law.

This bill lowers state income taxes to a flat 3.99% and replaces federal deduction structures. CPAC supports it for reducing tax burdens and promoting economic freedom. The House passed it 64–47, but the Senate did not act on the measure before the end of the 2025 legislative year.

This bill requires dismissal and expungement of gun possession charges invalidated by the 2024 Constitutional Carry law. CPAC supports it for upholding Second Amendment protections and ensuring fairness in the justice system. It passed both chambers overwhelmingly, with the House approving it on May 1, 2025, by a vote of 107-5 and became law after the Senate overrode a veto on May 28, 2025.

This bill requires school districts to adopt policies protecting students’ voluntary religious expression. CPAC supports it for upholding First Amendment rights and religious liberty in public education. The House passed it 115–0, but the Senate did not act on the legislation before the end of the 2025 legislative session.

This bill prohibits state agencies and schools from promoting DEI initiatives and mandates merit-based standards. CPAC supports it for advancing equality under the law and limiting government-driven ideological mandates. The House passed it 82–32, but it died in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This bill creates legal remedies to quickly remove unlawful occupants from residential dwellings. CPAC supports it for protecting property rights and maintaining the rule of law. The House passed it 109–0, but the Senate did not act on the measure before the end of the 2025 legislative session.

This bill prohibits government entities from maintaining firearm ownership records and establishes penalties for violations. CPAC supports it for defending privacy and Second Amendment rights. The House passed it 85–10, but the Senate did not act on the measure before the end of the legislative session.

SB 62 responds to a recent court decision that threatened to cripple South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund, that thousands of South Carolinians use to offset educational expenses. The bill adjusts the structure of the program to ensure compliance with the state constitution and expands the number of families eligible to join. CPAC believes school choice is a parental right and advocates for expanding educational freedom. For those reasons, it supports this bill. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed SB 62 on February 27, 2025, in a vote of 80–32, and Governor Henry McMaster signed the measure into law.

This bill establishes the framework for appointing commissioners to represent South Carolina at a potential Article V Constitutional Convention, defining qualifications, oaths, and duties. CPAC supports it for empowering states to assert their constitutional authority and push for limited federal overreach. The House passed it 76–29, and it is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This bill increases penalties for failing to stop a motor vehicle when signaled by law enforcement officers. CPAC supports this bill because it strengthens public safety, enforces accountability, and upholds law-and-order principles. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed HB 3127 on April 9, 2025, in a 98-10 vote, and Governor Henry McMaster signed the measure into law.

This bill criminalizes the creation, distribution, or possession of morphed sexual images of minors, strengthening protections for children against online exploitation. CPAC supports this bill because it defends vulnerable youth, promotes public safety, and upholds family values. The House passed the bill 96–19, and it was engrossed and referred to the Committee on Judiciary on April 10, 2025.

HB 4134 extends an existing South Carolina tax credit for startups, ensuring that the credit does not lapse until 2035. CPAC believes that it is unjust for governments to provide special favors to a certain type of business while other taxpayers bear the burden, and it opposes this bill. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed HB 4134 on April 22, 2025, in a 90-19 vote. The South Carolina Senate did not take a floor vote on the measure before the end of the 2025 legislative session.

This bill broadens legal exceptions to South Carolina’s longstanding gambling restrictions, paving the way for expanded state-sanctioned gambling. CPAC opposes this legislation because it encourages addictive behavior, threatens financial stability for families, and weakens the state’s commitment to personal responsibility and moral integrity. The House passed the bill 99–9, but the Senate did not act on the measure before the end of the 2025 legislative session.