The state’s FY26-27 general appropriations bill is heading to conference committee. Representatives Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville), Davey Hiott (R-Pickens), and Jackie Hayes (D-Dillon) will serve as the House conferees for the budget. Senate conferees will be Senators Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee), Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg), and Tom Davis (R-Beaufort).
The good news is, roads and bridges are poised for allocations. The House allocated roughly $350 million, while the Senate allocated $420 million to road and bridge improvements.
A comparison of the two plans is illustrated below. Please note that both the House and Senate bridge totals include a $139.5 million allocation from the Capital Reserve Fund.
The budget process still has a long way to go. Conferees will meet in the coming weeks to reach an agreement. The state’s fiscal year begins July 1, 2026.