S 0831 — AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 57-1-410, RELATING TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT THE SECRETARY INSTEAD OF THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; TO DEVOLVE THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UPON THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-30-10, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR GOVERNING BODIES, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT PROVIDES THAT PART OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS A SEVEN-MEMBER COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-30-105, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 11-43-140 AND 11-43-150, BOTH RELATING TO THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, SO AS TO REMOVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AS A DIRECTOR, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, AND TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 57-1-10, 57-1-40, 57-1-430, 57-1-500, 57-3-50, 57-1-90, 57-3-210, 57-3-700, 57-5-10, 57-5-50, 57-5-90, 57-5-310, 57-5-340, 57-13-10, 57-13-20, 57-13-40, 57-13-50, 57-25-120, 57-25-140, 57-25-150, 57-25-170, 57-25-200, 57-25-210, AND 57-1-370, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND ITS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES REGARDING THE COMMISSION; BY REPEALING SECTIONS 57-1-310, 57-1-320, 57-1-325, 57-1-330, 57-1-340, 57-1-350, AND SECTIONS 6, 7, AND 8 OF ACT 114 OF 2007 ALL RELATING TO THE CREATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND ITS COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 57-1-360, RELATING TO AUDITS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO SET FORTH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CHIEF INTERNAL AUDITOR AND TO REQUIRE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT EVERY FOUR YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 57-3-20, RELATING TO THE DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN DEPUTY SECRETARIES; BY ADDING SECTION 57-3-205 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER ENTITIES AND TO SET FORTH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 57-3-615, RELATING TO CERTAIN TOLLS AND USAGE CHARGES, SO AS TO SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH TOLLS AND USAGE CHARGES MAY BE IMPOSED; BY ADDING SECTION 57-3-790 SO AS TO WAIVE THE STATE'S IMMUNITY UNDER THE 11TH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WAIVING IMMUNITY; BY ADDING SECTION 57-3-800 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND TO SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AGREEMENTS ARE ENFORCEABLE; BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-1345 SO AS TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ADMINISTER AND COLLECT TOLLS AND USAGE CHARGES; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 57-5-820 AND 57-5-830, BOTH RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND MUNICIPALITIES, SO AS TO SET FORTH THE PROCESS BY WHICH A MUNICIPALITY MAY OBJECT TO THE PROJECT; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 57-5-1320, 57-5-1330, 57-5-1335, 57-5-1340, 57-5-1350, 57-5-1360, 57-5-1370, 57-5-1380, 57-5-1390, 57-5-1400, 57-5-1410, 57-5-1420, 57-5-1430, 57-5-1440, 57-5-1450, 57-5-1460, 57-5-1470, 57-5-1480, 57-5-1490, AND 57-5-1495, ALL RELATING TO TURNPIKE PROJECTS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE NAME OF SUCH PROJECTS TO CHOICE LANE FACILITIES, TO SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH CHOICE LANE FACILITIES MAY BE CONSTRUCTED, TO SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH BONDS MAY BE ISSUED FOR SUCH CHOICE LANE FACILITIES PROJECTS, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-1710 SO AS TO SET FORTH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO SELECT AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO A PHASED DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTOR; BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-1720 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO AWARD HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS USING A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER/GENERAL CONTRACTOR PROCEDURE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 56-5-4210 AND 56-5-4220, BOTH RELATING TO CERTAIN ROAD RESTRICTIONS ON LOCAL ROADS, SO AS TO SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH RESTRICTIONS MAY BECOME EFFECTIVE; BY AMENDING SECTION 11-35-710, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE CONSOLIDATED PROCUREMENT CODE, SO AS TO SPECIFY THE EXEMPTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO EXEMPT CERTAIN ROAD-RELATED ACQUISITIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-28-2740, RELATING TO "C" FUNDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES AND PROCEDURES FOR USING "C" FUND REVENUES; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-28-2920, RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN ROADS, SO AS TO SPECIFY THE USE OF USAGE CHARGE REVENUES; BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-1800 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE POTHOLE MITIGATION PROGRAM FOR THE PUBLIC REPORTING OF POTHOLE LOCATIONS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-375 SO AS TO SET FORTH A PROCESS BY WHICH COUNTY-FUNDED PROJECTS MAY REPRIORITIZE THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN WITHIN THE COUNTY. - RATIFIED TITLE
Last action — Act No. 177
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on May 18, 2026.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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5 sponsors
1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.
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Mixed recorded votes
2 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
In plain language
The bill changes the governance structure of South Carolina's Department of Transportation.
This bill allows the governor to appoint the Secretary of Transportation, removing the commission's role in overseeing the department. It also makes various updates to how the department operates and manages funds, including infrastructure projects and tolls.
What this means for you
- Workers: This bill may lead to changes in how transportation projects are prioritized and managed, potentially impacting employment in the sector.
- Families: Families may experience revised toll structures and enhanced transportation services resulting from the new governance model.
- Small Business: The changes might affect how transportation infrastructure and services are developed and funded, which can influence local businesses reliant on transport.
Summary
SCDOT Modernization
Bill Text
- Full text View text Current html
Action History
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Act No. 177
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Effective date See Act for Effective Date
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Signed By Governor
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Ratified R 156
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Enrolled for Ratification (Senate Journal-page 63)
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Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 63)
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Conference report received and adopted (Senate Journal-page 63)
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Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-2 (House Journal-page 68)
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Conference report received and adopted (House Journal-page 12)
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House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Bannister, Erickson, Brewer (House Journal-page 4)
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Senate insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Grooms, Bennett, Walker (Senate Journal-page 26)
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Roll call Yeas-108 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 124)
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Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments (House Journal-page 120)
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Amended (House Journal-page 120)
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Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 143)
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Read second time (House Journal-page 31)
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Amended (House Journal-page 31)
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Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 163)
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Requests for debate-Rep(s). B Newton, Pace, Frank, White, Magnuson, Edgerton, Gilreath, Cromer, Sessions, Guffey, J Moore, Gatch, Scott, Beach (House Journal-page 26)
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways and Means (House Journal-page 10)
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Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 39)
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Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 39)
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Roll call Ayes-37 Nays-1 (Senate Journal-page 10)
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Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 10)
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Amended (Senate Journal-page 10)
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Read second time (Senate Journal-page 22)
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Amended (Senate Journal-page 22)
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Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 22)
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Transportation (Senate Journal-page 29)
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate Journal-page 6)
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Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
Sponsors
- Senator Sean M. Bennett · Cosponsor
- Senator Ed Sutton · Cosponsor
- Senator Josh Kimbrell · Cosponsor
- Senator Darrell Jackson · Cosponsor
- Senator Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 165 not signed on · 3 voted No
"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 110 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Republican | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 114 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| % of votes cast | 92% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (124)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| % of votes cast | 0% | 17% | 0% | 83% |
How each member voted (6)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Senator Lee Bright | — | Nay |
| Senator Michael W. Gambrell | — | Not Voting |
| Senator Shane R. Martin | — | Not Voting |
| Senator Tameika Isaac Devine | — | Not Voting |
| Senator Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin | — | Not Voting |
| Senator Tom Fernandez | — | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 106 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Republican | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 111 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| % of votes cast | 90% | 2% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (123)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 0831 do?
- SCDOT Modernization
- Who sponsors S 0831?
- S 0831 is sponsored by Senator Sean M. Bennett, Senator Ed Sutton, Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Darrell Jackson, and Senator Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms.
- What is the current status of S 0831?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track S 0831?
- Track S 0831 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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