COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 126th South Carolina General Assembly gaveled in at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 14, marking the beginning of the new, two-year session.

Lawmakers are expected to pick up with legislation that failed to make the governor’s desk after an 8-month hiatus.  

Thirty-two freshman lawmakers are joining the General Assembly this session. Thirteen are in the Senate and 19 are in the House.

Republicans make up 126 of the 170-member body, holding a super majority in both the House and Senate for the first time in over a century. The legislature will have sweeping power to pass changes with such partisan momentum.

Member makeup:

  • Senate: 34 Republicans and 12 Democrats
  • House: 88 Republicans, 35 Democrats and 1 vacancy

More than 800 bills have been pre-filed across both chambers. They range in topics from sports betting to cursive writing curriculum.

Gov. Henry McMaster also has heavy plans for the fiscal year.

On Monday, the governor released his recommendations for the 2025-26 executive budget, a plan he will need lawmakers to agree on.

McMaster will become South Carolina’s longest serving governor in history during this new legislative session.