June 2026: Advocacy Updates

REMINDER: The annual Local Business Survey closes June 12. Let your voice be heard!

Local-Level Opportunities & Noteworthy Updates

VIEW THE CALENDAR OF LOCAL PUBLIC GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

• The City of North Charleston launches their comprehensive zoning code rewrite process this month with two public meetings. One is in person on June 2 and one is virtual on June 9. Learn more and speak up (dust off those zoning talking points here). Find us at the June 2 event! 
• The teams and consultants behind Lowcountry Rapid Transit are looking for input from those who live and work in the Reynolds Ave, Mall Drive, and Aviation / Remount areas of North Charleston. Take the Neighborhood Survey. A Business Survey will also be coming soon. 
• The Town of Mount Pleasant is looking for resident/business owner input on their upcoming transportation projects and road safety improvements. Take the survey here.
• The City of Charleston is preparing to launch a new Peninsula Plan with community input, which will include a renewed Tourism Management Plan, AND revamp its zoning code. Learn more and lend your voice.
• Do you have questions about your business license and/or permits in Charleston? Join the City of Charleston Business Services Division for License It & Permit It: Compliance & Regulations Webinar, a free online webinar on Wednesday, June 17th, 3 – 4 p.m. Click here to register!

• The SC Public Service Commission held another hearing on May 12 regarding Dominion Energy’s proposed rate hikes set to go into effect this July for residential and commercial users. The result was a scaled-back escalation of 7.62% increase, down from the proposed 13%. Dominion Energy was then purchased by Florida-based NextEra Energy. Read more via The Post and Courier.

State-Level Issues Worth Following

• The Statewide Primary Elections will remain on schedule for Tuesday, June 9. Check your sample ballot before you go. The voter registration deadline for that election has passed but you can still register to vote in the November elections.

  • Runoff Primary Elections: Tuesday, June 23 

  • General Election: Tuesday, November 3 
    

• The 2025-26 Legislative session technically ended May 14 before the Governor called the legislators back in for a special session on May 15 to debate the efforts to redistrict ahead of the state primaries (which did not pass). The session will reset for a new 2-year cycle this fall. The Senate will reconvene beginning June 10 to continue budget debates. Those decisions will impact a few of the key issues we've been following, including:
  • Liquor liability reform: In late April, SC Senator Massey offered a budget proviso that would temporarily suspend the liquor-liability insurance requirement for the current fiscal year. The pause would eliminate the insurance mandate altogether, allowing businesses to sell alcohol without carrying liquor liability coverage. The suspension would last through June 2027. This would provide immediate relief to the food and beverage community across the state, while regulation debates continue next year at the statehouse. The Senate must first pass a full budget, after which the proposal must survive negotiations with the House and gain approval from Gov. McMaster. Read more via Live 5 News.
  • The latest on the Hemp Bill: As of late April, SC lawmakers remain deeply divided over how to regulate hemp-derived products, such as THC-infused edibles and drinks. 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. Those changes were then rejected by the SC House in late April, forcing the bill to go into committee for further negotiation. Read more via The Post and Courier.
    
  • Farmer relief grants: Back in April, the South Carolina Senate included $35 million in the $15.3 billion state spending plan to aid struggling farmers. The grants are meant to offset steep losses from drought and rising fuel and fertilizer costs. 
• PASSED: SC DOT Modernization: S. 831 was signed into law in late May and represents one of the most significant transportation reform efforts in recent years. The legislation restructures the state's transportation governance by abolishing the current SCDOT Commission. Beginning in January 2027, there will be increased agency accountability through regular independent audits and strengthened public-private partnership rules. The law also streamlines environmental review processes, preserves county transportation funding requirements, and more.  
• PASSED: Charitable Giving Regulations: Lowcountry Local First, along with TogetherSC and the Secretary of State's office, are pleased to report that S.715 was signed into law in late May. This amends the regulations making it easier for small businesses to serve as commercial coventurers and support and raise funds on behalf of community nonprofits. Learn more about this.

Federal-Level Issues Impacting Your Success

• Corporate consolidation in the food and restaurant industries is driving up prices while leaving essential supply chains increasingly vulnerable to market disruptions. As giants like Sysco and McCormick pursue major acquisitions, weakened federal oversight threatens to eliminate the flexible alternatives that independent businesses and low-income communities rely on. The Independent Restaurant Coalition’s (IRC) has a petition here and a 20-question survey for local restaurants that will help build up their evidence in this push to the FTC. Please complete this by June 5.

• The federal administration's attempts to impose global tariffs suffered another legal blow last month. On May 7, a specialized court ruled against tariffs imposed by Trump in February as a replacement for other tariffs that were stuck down by the Supreme Court. - via WashingtonPost.com 

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