SC Supreme Court rejects expense reimbursement raises for lawmakers

The South Carolina Supreme Court has issued a permanent injunction against an in-district expense reimbursement increase that was passed in the 2025-26 state budget.

A provision in the state budget gave each member in state General Assembly a $18,000 raise in their in-district expense reimbursement allowances. The raise was challenged by state Sen. Wes Climer, R-York, and former teacher Carol Herring days after the budget was signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster.