S 688 South Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

DEW UI Tax Code

Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 41-31-5, RELATING TO CONTRIBUTIONS AND PAYMENTS TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE LOOKBACK PERIOD FOR THE BENEFIT RATIO; BY AMENDING SECTION 41-31-45, RELATING TO DEBT STATUS ESTIMATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A SOLVENCY TARGET FOR THE FUND; BY AMENDING SECTION 41-31-60, RELATING TO THE TAX RATE WHEN A DELINQUENT REPORT IS RECEIVED, SO AS TO CHANGE THE PENALTY FOR AN OUTSTANDING LIEN; BY AMENDING SECTION 41-31-350, RELATING TO THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FILE A REPORT, SO AS TO REMOVE THE CAP ON THE PENALTY FOR FAILING TO FILE A REPORT; BY AMENDING SECTION 41-31-370, RELATING TO INTEREST ON UNPAID CONTRIBUTIONS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE CAP ON THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PAY CONTRIBUTIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT THE FIRST TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OF NET DEPRECIATED VALUE OF BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNED BY A SMALL BUSINESS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-900, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX RETURNS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A TAXPAYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO RETURN BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAXATION IF THE TAXPAYER HAS LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OF NET DEPRECIATED VALUE OF BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY; BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-980 SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT ALL BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY REQUIRED TO BE RETURNED FOR TAXATION BE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 12-20-50, RELATING TO THE LICENSE TAX ON CORPORATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY PORTION OF THE FIRST FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS OF CERTAIN CAPITAL STOCK AND PAID-IN OR CAPITAL SURPLUS. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2026 · House May 12, 2026

How they voted

440
Passed
Total votes 44
Apr 1, 2026
D Democratic12
12 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
35
Key actions
11
Committee
8
Amendments
5
May 22, 2026
Signed into law
Signed By Governor
legislature
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference report received and adopted
lower
May 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee appointed Bennett, Williams, Massey
upper
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference committee appointed B Newton, Hewitt, Kirby
lower
May 14, 2026
Introduced
Non-concurrence in Senate amendment
lower
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Returned to House with amendments
upper
May 13, 2026
Amended
House amendment amended
upper
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
lower
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 12, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (106-0-8)
house
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways and Means
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and sent to House
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and Industry
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Dec 10, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors