SNEAK PEEK @ 2026: MY COLUMN IN TODAY’S AIKEN STANDARD

Dear Friends,

As we close out one year and step into the next, New Year’s Eve offers a natural moment to pause, reflect, and reset. In the General Assembly, that reflection matters — because the decisions we make in Columbia directly affect the lives, livelihoods, and futures of South Carolinians.

In the first year of the 126th Legislative Session, House Republicans delivered meaningful progress on issues that matter most to working families, small businesses, and our state’s long-term prosperity. Just as important, we head into the second year of the session with a clear agenda and a unified focus on affordability, freedom, and accountability.

Legislative Progress in 2025

In 2025, House Republicans worked to keep South Carolina moving in the right direction — toward lower taxes, safer communities, and greater opportunity.

A top priority was tax relief. We advanced a historic income-tax reform plan designed to lower rates and move South Carolina closer to eliminating the income tax altogether. This is about letting families keep more of what they earn and making our state more competitive for job creators. After months of challenging work, the House sent its plan to the Senate, where we will continue to push for final passage, so income tax rates continue to decline.

We also passed the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, a significant step toward cutting red tape and curbing government overreach. Small businesses are the backbone of South Carolina’s economy, and they deserve a regulatory environment that allows them to grow — not one that buries them in paperwork.

We passed legislation intended to help restaurants that serve liquor get relief from skyrocketing insurance rates that have caused some local restaurants to go out of business. The landmark liquor liability bill brings real reform to protect South Carolina’s hospitality industry.

Education reform remained front and center. We expanded school choice by strengthening the K-12 scholarship program, empowering parents, and giving more students access to learning environments where they can succeed. This reform is now law, and it reflects a simple belief: parents — not bureaucrats — know what’s best for their children.

To meet our state’s growing energy needs, we passed the Energy Security Act, which has been signed into law. This forward-looking legislation was crafted in response to the surging demand caused by our state’s population and economic growth. This comprehensive package strengthens grid reliability, expands generation capacity, and positions South Carolina for continued economic growth while keeping energy affordable and dependable. It lays the foundation for a stronger, more reliable energy future.

Public safety was another key focus. We addressed organized retail theft, created a felony for fentanyl-related homicide, and enacted new protections for children online. I am proud that after eight years of championing the Hands-Free Law, drivers are now required to keep cell phones out of their hands. This has been proven to save lives. These measures recognize a hard truth: public safety is not optional, and the government’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens.

We took decisive action to dismantle DEI bureaucracy across state government and higher education. South Carolinians believe in opportunity based on merit, not ideology. This year’s reforms were a significant step toward restoring fairness and common sense.

Finally, striving to improve the efficiency of state government, we merged three health agencies that provide services for people with mental health issues, disabilities, and drug and alcohol addictions. This consolidation makes it easier for South Carolinians to access the health care they need.

Focus For 2026

As we enter the 2026 legislative year, House Republicans remain united around a clear mission: fighting for freedom, families, and a more affordable South Carolina. That mission is grounded in four commitments.

First, freedom — upholding the Constitution, maintaining law and order, and holding government accountable.

Second, families — protecting children, empowering parents, and strengthening the values that hold communities together.

Third, affordability — cutting taxes, eliminating waste, and ensuring South Carolina remains a place where families can build a future.

Fourth, infrastructure, especially roads. We are committed to reducing red tape, increasing transparency, and speeding up projects so South Carolinians spend less time in traffic and more time at home.

What This Means for South Carolinians

In practical terms, here’s what we’re working on in 2026.

• We will continue partnering with the Senate to secure the income tax cut and advance toward a zero-income tax — real relief for families and small businesses.
• We will take a smarter approach to growth by accelerating road projects, addressing congestion, shortening commutes, and protecting communities from unchecked development.
• We will confront juvenile crime with clearer accountability, timely consequences, and reforms designed to stop repeat offenses.
• We will enforce immigration laws, oppose sanctuary policies, and strengthen cooperation with federal ICE agents to keep communities safe.
• We will pursue judicial reform to ensure the system works for victims and law-abiding citizens.
• With citizens facing skyrocketing insurance rates, we will advance insurance reforms to increase availability and affordability while protecting policyholders.
• We will stop dangerous mail-order abortion pills, protect women’s health, and uphold the rule of law.
• We will protect privacy and safety in school bathrooms and deliver strong parental-rights protections — clearly, consistently, and without apology.
• We will finalize the removal of DEI bureaucracy across the state and restore merit-based advancement in government and higher education.
• We will keep intoxicating hemp products out of the hands of children — period.
• We will work to restore accountability in higher-education tenure, reform welfare programs to encourage work, defend life, protect election integrity, uphold religious freedom, and ensure government serves the people—not the other way around.

Moving Forward Together

The year ahead will bring challenges – seen and unseen, but it will also bring opportunity. I join my colleagues in the House Republican Caucus as we enter 2026 united, focused, and committed to delivering results — not rhetoric.

Our goal remains simple: to make South Carolina the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family. That work continues in the new year, and I am grateful for the trust you place in us to carry out our mission. Thank you for the privilege of serving you.

DECEMBER IN REVIEW — SERVICE, FAMILY, & FAITH IN ACTION

December was a full and meaningful month—one that blended public service, family, and gratitude for those who serve our nation and communities.

Honoring Our South Carolina National Guard 🇺🇸

Just days before Christmas, I visited our South Carolina National Guard soldiers on duty protecting the Nation’s Capitol. The “Swamp Fox” Battalion—more than 300 strong—arrived in early December and will remain on assignment through March. Their presence has made a tangible difference in safety and quality of life in D.C., including already thwarting two armed robberies. One longtime resident told me how grateful he was for their service, and that he, his family, and friends, all feel safer from crime. I shared with our soldiers how deeply thankful we are for their sacrifice, especially being away from their families during the Christmas season.

Lifetime Memories with Our Grandchildren

Donna and I were blessed to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with three of our grandchildren—Laurel (12), Lydia (10), and Heath (4)—who joined us in Washington. They were guests of my friend and former state representative colleague, Congressman Russell Fry, and had the extraordinary privilege of being on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives during the final hours of voting before Congress recessed for Christmas. Under supervision, they even wielded the Speaker’s gavel and helped cast votes—a civics lesson they’ll never forget.

 

The grandchildren also visited the White House to enjoy the breathtaking Christmas decorations, described as an ode to the “enduring American spirit of generosity, patriotism, and gratitude.” Every detail was personally selected by First Lady Melania Trump. It was a joy for our entire family to experience this beautiful celebration of the season in this historic home.

 

History That Grounds Us

A day touring Washington’s national treasures began at the National Archives. No visit to our capital is complete without seeing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and—most importantly—the Bill of Rights, which remains our essential line of defense against an overreaching federal government.

We also enjoyed the warm hospitality of Congressman Joe Wilson, whose famously photo-covered office is a delight to see. Donna and I were equally honored to join in the Christmas festivities hosted by the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, The Rev. Margaret Kibben, a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.

 

Christmas at Home in Aiken County 🎄

Back home, December wouldn’t be complete without our beloved Christmas parades. On December 13, near-summertime weather made Wagener’s wonderful parade especially enjoyable. Small-town, hometown parades really are the best.

A week earlier, chilly temperatures and overcast skies didn’t dampen spirits at Aiken’s Christmas parade, which drew several thousand people for more than an hour of festive cheer. Our buddy dog, Hunter, the Bernedoodle, was a big hit with kids of all ages.

During the season, Donna and I also enjoyed attending the annual Christmas reception at the Executive Mansion, hosted by Governor Henry McMaster and First Lady Peggy McMaster. We skipped the traditional posed photo in favor of a more spontaneous moment—Donna’s idea, and the right one.

 

Legislative Work & Global Perspective

December began in Fort Worth, Texas, at a legislative summit hosted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), where we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the famed “Laffer Curve” with its creator, legendary economist Arthur Laffer. His work helped spark the Reagan Tax Revolution and continues to shape pro-growth tax policy today. The curve was famously drawn on a cocktail napkin during a 1976 Washington dinner—and Arthur generously gave me my own autographed napkin, a true keepsake.

No visit to Texas would be complete without a big hug from my friend Rick Perry, former Texas Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy. His inspiring remarks reminded us what genuine, noble public service looks like.

The conference concluded with a sobering and powerful reminder of the evil of Hamas. Our small dinner group heard firsthand accounts from Almog Meir Jan, who was taken hostage during the October 7 attacks and held captive for 246 days before being rescued by Israeli special forces. Also sharing was Ben Ladany, an Israeli special forces soldier seriously wounded during the Swords of Iron operation. Both expressed gratitude for President Trump’s unwavering support for Israel and credited his leadership with helping bring the war to an end. They met with President Trump in the Oval Office the following week.

A Grateful Close to 2025

December was busy, meaningful, and humbling—a reminder of why service matters, why family matters, and why faith, freedom, and community must always come first.

As always, thank you for the honor of serving you.