April 2026: Advocacy Updates

Local-Level Opportunities & Noteworthy Updates

• Town of Mount Pleasant launches Plan Pop-Ups: These informal conversations give you the opportunity to talk with Town's Planning Department staff members about what issues the Town should focus on most in the years ahead, from traffic and housing affordability to quality of life. The next PLAN Pop-Up is scheduled for April 14 at the Farmers Market from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Look to their Facebook page for updates.

• Charleston County is using a special tax incentive to build attainable housing. Plans for an attainable housing complex off Rivers Ave. are moving forward with help from a special tax break being used for the first time to incentivize affordable housing in Charleston County. - via Charleston City Paper
• Charleston County Council will receive briefings this month on the second phase of public input and will use it to refine the proposed Transportation Sales Tax program specifics. - Learn more and weigh in at charlestontransportation.com. 

State-Level Issues Worth Following

• Some (not all) of SC’s GOP candidates for governor will face their first debate April 1 at 7 p.m. Learn how to view.   

• A bipartisan-supported SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) modernization bill passed through the SC Senate in late March. The proposed legislation will:

  • force better coordination of roads projects across state agencies and require the SCDOT to create a long-range state transportation plan,

  • authorize SCDOT to enter into an agreement with the federal government to manage the environmental permitting process for new roads, 

  • incentivize counties and cities to take ownership of non-critical state roads, and

  • expand the SCDOT’s tolling authority, as well as authorize it to enter into public-private partnerships to build what are called “choice lanes.”

  • A similar bill that’s making its way through the House, so more reforms and revisions are to come. Learn more via Post and Courier. 

• The latest on the Hemp Bill: In late March, the SC Senate approved a heavily amended bill (H. 3924) designed to regulate, rather than entirely ban, hemp-derived THC products like drinks and gummies. The legislation aims to restrict access for those under 21 and tighten safety standards in response to a "loophole" in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed high-potency THC products to be sold in stores. The bill is currently headed back to the House for consideration, with a legislative deadline of May 7, 2026. - Read more via TheState.com.  

• Lowcountry Local First, along with TogetherSC and the Secretary of State's office, continue to follow the progress of companion bills S715 and H4662, proposing amendments to the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act in order to make it easier for small businesses to support and raise funds on behalf of nonprofits.
  • Where do things currently stand?
    • Senate bill: S.715 passed its second and third reading on the full Senate floor on March 3rd and 4th and moved over to the House.
    • House bill: H4662 passed its third reading in the House on March 26, 2026 and moved to the Senate LCI committee the week of March 30.
    • Learn more about these bills on our blog.

Federal-Level Issues Impacting Your Success

• New Tax Laws & How They Impact Small Biz: “New federal tax changes under H.R. 1 permanently extended several provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including the Section 199A pass-through deduction, which allows certain businesses to deduct up to 20% of their qualifying business income. While the deduction was extended, many Main Street businesses may see limited benefits compared to high-income taxpayers.” - View Small Business Majority’s latest blog to learn more. 
• The Fight for Fair Competition: Barely a week after the surprise settlement of the antitrust case leveled by the Department of Justice that threatened to separate Live Nation from its Ticketmaster division, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Mn.) has introduced the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act “to strengthen review of antitrust settlements and ensure they protect consumers, workers, and small businesses,” according to the announcement. - via Variety.com
• Media monopolies threaten the future of local, indie media: “Last week, the Trump administration officially approved the $6.2 billion merger of TV companies Nexstar and Tegna, creating a broadcast titan that reaches about 80% of U.S. households — double the national ownership cap established by Congress. The deal is the latest example of how corporate consolidation erodes the essential goods and services that communities rely on to function. ...A coalition of states has already filed an emergency motion to block the Nexstar merger, signaling that the fight is far from over.” - Learn more via ILSR’s podcast.
• Protecting Independent Pharmacies: CVS is threatening to shut down all of its TN locations in if the state passes a bill to prevent PBMs from owning pharmacies – a threat that the pharmacy giant also deployed in Arkansas but has yet to follow through on. - Learn more. 

• The Fight for Fair Pricing: Small businesses deserve a chance to compete in fair markets. We supported a nationwide push that led to the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act to be introduced last week by Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, which would bolster existing laws meant to prevent large companies from striking better deals with suppliers than their smaller rivals. - Learn more via Institute for Local Self Reliance. 

• Banning Personalized Pricing: Colorado House Bill 26-1210 (HB26-1210), titled "Prohibit Surveillance Price & Wage Setting," is a proposed 2026 legislative effort aimed at banning the use of personal surveillance data by automated systems to set individualized prices for goods and services or to determine employee wages. The bill passed a House committee with a 7-6 vote in March 2026 and is aimed at protecting consumers from personalized pricing, where companies charge the highest possible price an individual is willing to pay based on their browsing history, location, and habits. - Learn more. 

• Rising Concerns Over Dynamic Pricing: “Walmart is rolling out digital shelf labels (Electronic Shelf Labels) to all U.S. stores by 2026, replacing paper tags in over 2,300 locations. This technology enables instant, centralized price updates, reducing labor hours and improving accuracy. Reports highlight that the digital displays are implemented to allow quick adjustments to prices, and that the system allows for real-time pricing changes which draws concerns for many.” - Learn more via TheStreet.com. 

 Questions? Want to chat? Reach out: Jordan@lowcountrylocalfirst.org