South Carolina H 5018: Agency Head Salary Commission, Governor and Lt. Governor

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5018 Text of Previous Version (May. 12, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5018

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Recalled

May 12, 2026

H. 5018

Introduced 
by Rep. G. M. Smith 

S. Printed 5/12/26--S.

Read the first time April 28, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 1-1-1210, RELATING TO ANNUAL SALARIES OF CERTAIN STATE OFFICERS, SO AS 
TO PROVIDE THAT SALARIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST BE 
BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-160, RELATING TO THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY 
COMMISSION AND SALARY INCREASES FOR AGENCY HEADS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT 
SALARIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST BE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS 
BY THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO REQUIRE 
THE COMMISSION TO AUTHORIZE A STUDY EVERY FOUR YEARS TO RECOMMEND SALARY RANGES 
FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-165, 
RELATING TO THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION AND ITS DUTIES AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 1-1-1210 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
1-1-1210. (A) The annual salaries 
of the state officers listed below are:

 30

 Governor

 $98,000

 31

 Lieutenant Governor

 43,000

 32

 Secretary of State

 85,000

 33

 State Treasurer

 85,000

 34

 Attorney General

 85,000

 35

 Comptroller General

 85,000

 36

 Superintendent of Education

 85,000

 37

 Adjutant General

 85,000

 38

 Commissioner of Agriculture

 85,000

 (B) 
These salaries must be increased by two percent on July 1, 1991, and on July 
first of each succeeding year through July 1, 1994.

 (C) A 
state officer whose salary is provided in this section may not receive 
compensation for ex officio service on any state board, committee, or 
commission.

 (D) 
Beginning with Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and beginning when the state officer's term commences and lasting until the term concludes, 
with the exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, salaries for the 
state officers listed in subsection (A) must be based on recommendations by the 
Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly as provided in Sections 
8-11-160 and 8-11-165.

 (E) Beginning when the Governor's and 
Lieutenant Governor's terms commence on January 20, 2027, and lasting until the 
terms conclude, salaries for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor must be 
based on recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General 
Assembly as provided in Sections 8-11-160 and 8-11-165.

SECTION 2. Section 8-11-160 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
8-11-160. (A) All boards and 
commissions are required to submit justification of an agency head's 
performance and salary recommendations to the Agency Head Salary Commission.

 (B) 
This commission consists of four appointees of the chairman of the House Ways 
and Means Committee, four appointees of the chairman of the Senate Finance 
Committee, and three appointees of the Governor with experience in executive 
compensation.

 (C) 
Beginning with Fiscal Year 2022-2023:

 (1) 
salaries for the term of state officers listed in Section 1-1-1210(A), with the 
exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, must be based on 
recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly; 
and

 (2) 
the Agency Head Salary Commission shall authorize a study be conducted every 
four years to recommend a salary range for each state constitutional officer, 
with the exception of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, based on their job 
duties and responsibilities as well as the pay of state constitutional officers 
in other states.

 (D) Beginning January 20, 2027, 
salaries for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor must be based on 
recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly, 
and the commission shall authorize a study to be conducted every four years to 
recommend a salary range for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor based on 
their job duties and responsibilities as well as the pay of governors and 
lieutenant governors in other states.

 (D)(E) Salary increases for agency heads, 
the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor must be based on 
recommendations by each agency board or commission to the Agency Head Salary 
Commission and their recommendations to the General Assembly.

SECTION 3. Section 8-11-165(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (A) It is the intent of the General 
Assembly that:

 (1) 
A salary and fringe benefit survey for agency heads must be conducted