The bill H. 4517 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 11-1-130, which prohibits appropriations bills or amendments from including earmarked funds for specific projects or entities outside the core budgetary process, starting with the Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The bill outlines that once the Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs certifies a projected budget surplus, the Budget Committee will divide this surplus equally among all members of the General Assembly, which includes 124 representatives and 46 senators.

Furthermore, each member is required to allocate their district's portion of the surplus funds exclusively to essential governmental functions such as infrastructure, public safety, or K-12 education. The Ways and Means Committee will set guidelines for the permissible uses of these funds to ensure accountability, and each member must submit an annual report detailing their fund allocations, which will be subject to public disclosure and review by the Legislative Audit Council. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
05/06/2025: 11-1-130
Latest Version: 11-1-130