October 2025: Advocacy Updates

Local 

• November 4, 2025, is a major date for democracy across the Lowcountry. Several municipalities across our region will hold general elections for city and town councils, and other important local offices. These are the people who make decisions that directly affect your daily life, from zoning and public safety to park maintenance and community development.

Here is a quick look at what's on the ballot and how you can make your voice heard.
** Be sure to register to vote or update your registration by the October 3 deadline! Early voting will run Oct 20 - 31. **

• Charleston County Council has directed planning staff and county attorneys to work on an amendment to take infrastructure into consideration when property owners make zoning requests. - via Post and Courier 

• Charleston County is preparing for a potential transportation sales tax referendum to go on the 2026 ballot. Chernoff Newman and Trust for Public Land are coordinating with county officials on public education and feedback, and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) is assessing data. There is now a public website, updated with information as it becomes available. - via Charleston Moves 

• The City of North Charleston is debating staggering city council elections – via Post and Courier 

• The League of Women Voters is set to host a Charleston City Council candidate forum at Circular Congregational Church on Thursday, Oct 2. Learn more and register. 

• Charleston County Council and local municipalities are considering new and amended policies around plastic bag usage. - via ABC News 4 

Federal 

• Join Us for a Briefing for Small Business Owners: How Big Retailers Get Illegal Pricing Deals and How to Fight Back

  Ever wonder how Walmart, Amazon, dollar chains or other big retailers are able to set their retail prices lower than independents? You are invited to join a virtual briefing detailing how mega retailers use their market power to extract illegal pricing, access, and promotions from suppliers, allowing them to undercut small and medium competitors on retail prices. This illegal practice has been largely unpoliced, but there is a groundswell movement to fight back. Small businesses can join together to urge federal regulators to revive the Robinson-Patman Act – a law passed in the 1930s to safeguard the ability of Main Street businesses to compete. 

  Join independent business associations to see how your business can stand up to big corporate power and level the playing field.

  Tuesday, October 28th, 1pm ET // Register here.

  Attendees will learn:

  • How large corporations using their market power to bully suppliers into special deals or access, which results in smaller competitors shouldering higher wholesale costs for the same truckload of goods   

  • Why this is illegal and why lack of enforcement has led to unfair marketplaces

  • How small businesses can take action

  
  

• Lowcountry Local First (LLF) joins call for Congress to extend ACA tax credits, support small businesses: Last month, LLF signed on to a letter with Small Business Majority and more than 250 other small business advocates asking Congress to protect the nearly 3 million small business owners who rely on the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to lower out-of-pocket costs and access vital healthcare. Our staff also spoke with Sen. Tim Scott's healthcare policy team about this issue directly.
   
  If Congress does not extend the tax credits, premiums could skyrocket for small businesses, and more than 4 million Americans could lose coverage. The tax credits have become a central issue in the government funding standstill. Read more about the potential impact. Use this calculator tool to estimate costs for 2026 plans. 

• FTC Secures Historic $2.5 Billion Settlement Against Amazon: Agency alleged that Amazon used deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime subscriptions and made it exceedingly difficult to cancel. Learn more and see if you qualify for a refund. - via FTC.gov  

• Our staff is connecting with federal lawmakers this month around the skyrocketing costs impacting our small businesses, including tariffs, credit card swipe fees, healthcare coverage, and more. Have these issues impacted your business? Let us know!

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Questions? Input? Email Jordan@lowcountrylocalfirst.org.