House sets general appropriations bill and capital reserve fund as daily special orders ahead of budget debate

The South Carolina House on the floor moved to set the fiscal‑year 2026–27 general appropriations bill, House Bill 51‑26, as a special order to be taken immediately after roll call beginning Monday, March 9, and each day thereafter until the bill receives second reading. Representative Bannister made the motion; the presiding officer announced the motion adopted by voice ('Ayes have it').

Bannister also moved that House Bill 51‑27, the joint resolution appropriating the capital reserve fund for fiscal year 2025–26 (noted on the floor as the capital reserve fund bill), be set as a special order to follow 51‑26 and every roll call thereafter until second reading; that motion was likewise adopted by voice. Representative Bannister then moved that, while debating HB 51‑26 on second reading, the bills on the calendar be printed by number only; that procedural motion was adopted.

Separately, the House rules committee presented House Resolution 5,323 to place House Bill 42‑16 (income tax) and House Bill 33‑68 (tax conformity) on special order after budget and capital reserve consideration. Representative Kaske explained the resolution, saying the committee had met and proposed the sequencing to permit the Appropriations Act and capital reserve fund to be taken first; the House adopted HR 5,323 by voice.

Why it matters: Setting the general appropriations bill and capital reserve fund as consecutive special orders prioritizes budget debate and signals a compressed, daily schedule for consideration of what members repeatedly described on the floor as a heavy amendment workload. Members were also told to deliver amendments to staff before Monday to avoid processing delays.

What happens next: The House will convene statewide session at 1 p.m. Monday, March 9, where members can expect HB 51‑26 to proceed immediately after roll call. The resolution from the rules committee places the planned income‑tax and tax‑conformity bills after those budget items.

Quotes from the floor included the motion maker: 'I move that House 51‑26, the general appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026–27, be set for special order on Monday, 03/09/2026, immediately after roll call and after every roll call every day thereafter until given second reading,' as read by Representative Bannister.