January 21, 2026
South Carolina Senate
Committee on Judiciary
South Carolina State House
Gressette Room 105
1101 Pendleton Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Dear Senator,
On January 22, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a subcommittee work session on H. 3021, the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act. On behalf of the 4,649 members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) in South Carolina, I urge you to support this legislation.
Regulations increase business operating costs and consumer prices across many industries and adversely impact competition, employment, investment, innovation, and productivity. Under current law, regulations take effect if the legislature does not pass a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the regulation within 110 days of its promulgation. Inadequate oversight and failure to sufficiently use this disapproval process has allowed executive branch agencies to promulgate far-reaching regulations that place significant new burdens on South Carolina businesses and taxpayers.
H. 3021 would create more balance between the legislative and executive branch over the implementation of regulations by establishing an affirmative approval process for a major regulation, which is defined as having an economic impact in the state of at least $1 million over five years. Such regulations would only take effect when both chambers of the General Assembly pass a joint resolution expressing approval. The bill would also subject most regulations to sunset review, which means the regulation would automatically expire after seven years unless it is renewed after the review.
The Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act would give the legislature the ability to consider and then support or reject a major regulation based on whether it unnecessary and burdensome for South Carolina businesses and consumers, along with other pro-small businesses provisions. For these reasons, I urge you to support H. 3021.
Sincerely,
Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW