South Carolina Senate Passes $15.4 Billion Budget Following Discussions on Bathrooms and Conference Changes

The South Carolina Senate recently approved a $15.4 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes various provisions that have sparked debate and controversy. One of the most contentious issues was the addition of a one-year provision requiring students to use the bathrooms of their sex assigned at birth and stay in rooms with people of the same sex during overnight field trips.

While all Republicans supported the proposal, Democrats raised concerns about the constitutionality of the measure and the potential legal challenges it may face. Democratic Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine of Columbia warned that the state could face costly legal action defending the provision.

In addition to the bathroom provision, senators also addressed concerns about charter school operators misusing state funds for personal gain. A new amendment limits the amount of state money charter schools can use for administration to 2%, aiming to prevent misuse of funds by school operators.

The budget also includes measures to address issues such as university spending on athletic conference changes, county library plans to prevent children from accessing inappropriate material, and state employee raises. The Senate plan prioritizes spending on roads, bridges, and local infrastructure repairs, while also allocating funds for teacher raises and education initiatives.

The budget debate lasted for over a dozen hours, with senators eventually reaching a consensus on key budget priorities. The differences between the Senate and House budgets will need to be reconciled in the coming weeks, setting the stage for further negotiations and potential compromises.