South Carolina House of Representatives | |
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South Carolina General Assembly | |
![]() Seal of the South Carolina House of Representatives | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | None |
History | |
New session started | January 14, 2025 |
Leadership | |
Speaker pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 124 |
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Political groups | Majority Minority |
Length of term | 2 years |
Authority | Article III, South Carolina Constitution |
Salary | $10,400/year + per diem |
Elections | |
Last election | November 5, 2024 (124 seats) |
Next election | November 3, 2026 (124 seats) |
Redistricting | Legislative Control |
Meeting place | |
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House of Representatives Chamber South Carolina State House Columbia, South Carolina | |
Website | |
South Carolina House of Representatives | |
Rules | |
Rules of the South Carolina House of Representatives |
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections.
Unlike many legislatures, seating on the floor is not divided by party, but is arranged by county delegation – a legacy of the original apportionment of the chamber. Until 1964, each of South Carolina's counties was a legislative district, with the number of representatives determined by the county's population. It meets from the second week of January into May.
In Colonial times, there was a Commons House of Assembly. [1]
Representatives are considered part-time citizen legislators who serve two-year terms. Representatives are elected at-large by their district, and there are no term limits. [2] Representatives must be 21 years of age before they are eligible to become a representative. [3]
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
Beginning of 2023-25 Session [a] | 88 | 36 | 124 | 2 |
Expected voting share | 71% | 29% |
South Carolina House of Representatives officers | ||
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Position | Name | Party |
Speaker | Murrell Smith | Republican |
Majority Leader | Davey Hiott | Republican |
Minority Leader | Todd Rutherford | Democratic |
Committee | Chair | [7] | |
---|---|---|---|
Subcommittee | |||
Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs | Bill Hixon (R-83) | ||
Agriculture | Bill Chumley (R-35) | ||
Environmental Affairs | Mike Burns (R-17) | ||
Wildlife | Cal Forrest (R-39) | ||
Education and Public Works | Shannon Erickson (R-124) | ||
K-12 | Jeff Bradley (R-123) | ||
Higher Education | Tim McGinnis (R-56) | ||
Early Childhood | Stewart Jones (R-14) | ||
Public Safety | Tom Hartnett (R-110) | ||
Transportation | David Vaughan (R-27) | ||
Motor Vehicles | Doug Gilliam (R-14) | ||
Ethics | Jay Jordan (R-63) | ||
Interstate Cooperation | Mark N. Willis (R-16) | ||
Invitations and Memorial Resolutions | Dennis Moss (R-29) | ||
Judiciary | Weston J. Newton (R-45) | ||
Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity & Special Laws | Travis Moore (R-33) | ||
Constitutional Laws | Jay Jordan (R-63) | ||
Criminal Laws | Jeff Johnson (R-58) | ||
Family, Business, and Probate Law | Beth Bernstein (D-78) | ||
General Laws | Case Brittain (R-107) | ||
Labor, Commerce and Industry | Bill Herbkersman (R-118) | ||
Banking And Consumer Affairs | Joseph H. Jefferson (D-63) | ||
Real Estate | Anne Thayer (R-9) | ||
Public Utilities | Jay West (R-7) | ||
Insurance | Kevin Hardee (R-105) | ||
Administration and Regulations | Carl Anderson (D-103) | ||
Legislative Oversight | Jeff Johnson (R-58) | ||
Economic Development, Transportation, and Natural Resources | Travis Moore (R-33) | ||
Education and Cultural Affairs | Tim McGinnis (R-56) | ||
Healthcare and Regulatory | Joseph H. Jefferson (D-102) | ||
Law Enforcement, Criminal and Civil Justice | Chris Wooten (R-69) | ||
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs | Sylleste Davis (R-100) | ||
Medical and Health Affairs | Marvin Smith (R-99) | ||
Military and Veterans Affairs | Bobby Cox (R-21) | ||
Municipal and Public Affairs | Joe Bustos (R-112) | ||
Operations and Management | Patrick Haddon (R-19) | ||
Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity Committee | Jeff Bradley (R-123) | ||
Artificial Intelligence | Brandon Guffey (R-48) | ||
Business and Industry | Terry Alexander (D-59) | ||
Education & Administrative | James Teeple (R-117) | ||
Emerging Technologies | JA Moore (D-15) | ||
Environment and Natural Resources | Bill Taylor (R-17) | ||
Health and Healthcare Industries | Carl Anderson (R-103) | ||
Rules | Micah Caskey (R-89) | ||
Ways and Means | Bruce W. Bannister (R-24) | ||
Economic Development | Micah Caskey (R-89) | ||
General Government | Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-95) | ||
License, Fee and Other Taxes | Todd Rutherford (D-74) | ||
Property Tax | Neal Collins (R-5) | ||
Sales & Use Tax and Income Tax | Brandon Michael Newton (R-45) | ||
Revenue Policy | Bruce W. Bannister (R-24) | ||
Year | Democratic Party | Republican Party | Independent / Other | Majority |
---|---|---|---|---|
1865 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 124 |
1868 | 14 | 110 | 0 | 96 |
1870 | 0 | 100 | 24(a) | 76 |
1872 | 22 | 102 | 0 | 80 |
1874 | 0 | 91 | 33(b) | 58 |
1876 | 64 | 60 | 0 | 4 |
1878 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 118 |
1880 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
1882 | 118 | 6 | 0 | 112 |
1884 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 114 |
1886 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
1888 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 118 |
1890 | 115 | 9 | 0 | 106 |
1892 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
1894 | 104 | 3 | 17(c) | 87 |
1896– 1900 | 123 | 1 | 0 | 122 |
1902– 1960 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 124 |
1961 | 123 | 1 [8] [9] | 0 | 122 |
1962 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 124 |
1964 | 123 | 1 | 0 | 122 |
1966 | 107 | 17 | 0 | 90 |
1968 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 114 |
1970 | 113 | 11 | 0 | 102 |
1972 | 103 | 21 | 0 | 82 |
1974 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 92 |
1976 | 112 | 12 | 0 | 100 |
1978 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 92 |
1980 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 92 |
1982 | 105 | 19 | 0 | 86 |
1984 | 96 | 28 | 0 | 68 |
1986 | 92 | 32 | 0 | 60 |
1988 | 88 | 36 | 0 | 52 |
1990 | 80 | 44 | 0 | 36 |
1992 | 74 | 50 | 0 | 24 |
1994 | 54 | 70 | 0 | 16 |
1996 | 53 | 71 | 0 | 18 |
1998 | 57 | 67 | 0 | 10 |
2000 | 53 | 71 | 0 | 18 |
2002 | 51 | 73 | 0 | 22 |
2004 | 50 | 74 | 0 | 24 |
2006 | 51 | 73 | 0 | 22 |
2008 | 51 | 73 | 0 | 22 |
2010 | 48 | 76 | 0 | 28 |
2012 | 46 | 78 | 0 | 32 |
2014 | 46 | 78 | 0 | 32 |
2016 | 44 | 80 | 0 | 36 |
2018 | 44 | 80 | 0 | 36 |
2020 [10] | 43 | 81 | 0 | 38 |
2022 [b] | 36 | 88 | 0 | 52 |
(a) 21 were members of the Union Reform Party of South Carolina and the other 3 were Independents from Anderson. Two of the Union Reform members from Chesterfield were later replaced by Republicans from a resolution passed in the House.
(b) All 33 were members of the Conservative Party of South Carolina.
(c) All 17 were Independent Democrats.
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