Legislative Priorities

No other construction industry organization in the Carolinas delivers on legislative and regulatory issues like Carolinas AGC. Whether it involves helping ease the workforce shortage; leading efforts to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure improvements involving transportation, building and utility public construction work; improving the business climate for construction or cutting bureaucratic red tape and minimizing risks for the construction industry, CAGC is working for you.
Below is a snapshot of how Carolinas AGC lobbyists work on members’ behalf in the North Carolina and South Carolina legislatures.

NC Flag North Carolina

“Lawmakers are expected to convene their short legislative session in April but, as of this writing, have failed to approve a two-year biennial budget that would have gone into effect last July. Although lawmakers have passed several “mini” budget bills, most of state government continues to operate under a continuing resolution. At stake are raises for teachers and state employees, full funding for capital projects, Medicaid rebase funding and other necessary increases for programs that keep our state safe and prosperous.” - Betsy Bailey, NC Government Relations and Building Division Director

CAGC’S Legislative Priorities in North Carolina

FY 2026-27 Appropriations Act (HB 257) – Both the House and Senate passed their version of HB 257, the 2025 Appropriations Act, last spring. Other than several smaller appropriations bills, there has been no action on HB 257 since a conference committee was appointed in June 2025. The biggest difference between the House and Senate budgets is the size of the tax cuts. The Senate budget removes the revenue triggers and requires the state to drop to 2.99% tax rate, guaranteeing deep fiscal problems. The House keeps all statutory tax cuts in place but adjusts the revenue triggers to a formula based on inflation plus population growth. Under the House budget, the state would continue to enjoy sufficient revenues to fund a fiscally conservative general operating budget and keep current program commitments such as Medicaid operations, economic development projects and teacher raises. As long as both chambers disagree on the base revenue number – and they are still very far apart – there will be no full budget.

CAGC’s number one priority for the short session will be to advocate for passage of a biennial budget that honors the state’s commitment to capital infrastructure projects already underway, provides additional funding for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in western NC and allocates increased funding for NCDOT to offset costs incurred from Helene and other storms.

ASE Cameras in Work Zones: Construction work zones remain among the most dangerous environments for both workers and motorists. Automated Speed Enforcement cameras are a proven technology that reduce speed-related incidents. Other states have successfully adopted these systems, resulting in fewer deaths and improved safety without increasing staffing needs. ASE not only saves lives – it reinforces that safety is a shared responsibility. CAGC will ask the legislature to authorize the use of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras in work zones.

Job Order Contracting: There are third-party vendors (Gordian) that are interested in authorizing JOC as a construction delivery method. While JOC is marketed as an efficient delivery method, it bypasses traditional bidding and can increase costs if not monitored. CAGC opposes Job Order Contracting. However, If JOC were to be authorized, CAGC recommends a measured approach to implementation: limit pilot JOCS to $3 million, with $500 task caps; require detailed cost reporting from public agencies; and mandate that owners pay any third-party fees. This would preserve North Carolina’s long-standing commitment to open, competitive procurement.

Regulatory Reform: Regulatory bottlenecks slow down critical infrastructure and vertical construction projects – costing time, money and jobs. CAGC supports collaborative reform efforts that modernize approval timelines and increase efficiency at both the state and local levels.

Construction Workforce: CAGC supports additional funding to continue and expand the current partnership with the NCCCS to host Construction Bootcamps. The expansion would target high school seniors and juniors, offering a fast-track to certifications, paid internships, and full-time employment – with a special focus on rural and western communities.

Elections – Races to Watch in NC:

2026 is an election year for all 170 members of the NC House and Senate, the US House of Representatives, and one of our state’s US Senate seats. The NC primary races would have already occurred – March 3 - by the time of release of this publication.

U.S. Senate:

North Carolina has an open race for the general election after Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, decided he would not seek re-election. Roy Cooper, a popular former governor, is expected to take the Democratic nomination, while Michael Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee hand-picked by President Trump, is the Republican front-runner.

U.S. House:

Recent changes to the boundaries of North Carolina’s congressional districts could help Republicans win a seat that Democrats have held for more than 100 years — leading to a crowded field in the GOP primary.

The state legislature last year redrew the state’s 1st Congressional District, which sprawls across northeastern North Carolina and is represented by two-term Democrat Don Davis. Davis’s home has been drawn out of the district, but he plans to still run for reelection to the seat and live in the district.

State Senate:

At the time of this report, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page is challenging state Senate leader Phil Berger in the GOP primary for the 26th district, which covers Rockingham and Guilford counties. Berger has represented the area for 25 years, becoming the chamber’s leader in 2011 and subsequently leading Republican measures to cut taxes, slash regulations and rewrite state policies to align with the GOP’s agenda. Page is campaigning on the notion that the Senate leader has lost touch with the needs of his district, pointing to Berger’s consideration of a casino in Rockingham County in 2023 despite some public opposition, among other issues.

State House:

One of the more competitive state legislative seats anywhere in North Carolina is District 37 in southwestern Wake County, representing parts of Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. It’s been held for several years by Republican Rep. Erin Paré, but Democrats are hoping to flip the seat blue. First though, Democrats must figure out who they want to run against Paré. Three Democrats are competing in the March primary to take her on: Winn Decker, Ralph Clements and Marcus Gadson. Decker is a longtime public education policy analyst; Gadson is a law professor at UNC-Chapel Hill who specializes in constitutional law; and Clements is a businessman with experience in tech and health care.

Please join us for Legislative Day at the North Carolina State Capitol on May 13th and contact Betsy Bailey, bbailey@carolinasagc.org or Victor Barbour vbarbour@carolinasagc.org for more information.

SC Flag South Carolina

“The second session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly began Tuesday, January 13.  Legislators will continue discussions of the bills filed during the 2025 legislative session and work through newly filed legislation (currently totaling 2,996) until adjourning for the year on May 14.” – Whitney Williams, CAGC SC Director of Government Relations and Divisions

CAGC’S Legislative Priorities in South Carolina

FY 26/27 General Appropriations Bill: Governor Henry McMaster’s Executive Budget included a request for $1.1 billion for roads and bridges. The request comes as part of the upcoming executive budget discussions and aims to ensure that rising material and labor expenses don’t delay infrastructure improvements. The FY 26/27 General Appropriations bill will wind through the legislative process, with a final spending bill to be approved by June 30, 2026.

SCDOT Modernization: The General Assembly is focused on modernizing the SC Department of Transportation with the help of H.5071 and S.831 which contain priorities such as:

  • Streamlining administrative processes of the department.
  • Amending the roles and responsibilities of the Commission.
  • Creation of a Coordinating Council for Transportation and Mobility.
  • Voluntary devolution of nonessential roads to local governments.
  • Updates to the Public-Private Partnership statute.
  • New project delivery methods are allowed such as Phased-Design Build and CM/GC.
  • Updates the tolling statutes to allow for choice lanes.
  • Accelerating the environmental process by assigning the NEPA process to SCDOT.
  • Establishes timelines for municipal consent.
  • Implementation of Congestion Mitigation Fees on residential and commercial development.
  • Increases EV registration fees.
  • Establishes an electric vehicle charging fee at public charging stations.

Insurance Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee: The Insurance Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee announced the filing of H.4817. The bill:

  • Transfers investigation/enforcement authority from LLR to the Department of Insurance for cases involving insurance issues.
  • Expands mitigation initiatives (e.g., stronger building codes, public education).
  • Makes zero-dollar windshield deductibles optional, rather than mandated, to reduce insurer costs.
  • Protects not-at-fault drivers from insurance claims counting against them.
  • Increases transparency by requiring the Department of Insurance to report data on rate-impacting factors from the past five years and provide ongoing updates to the committee.

What Will CAGC Watch Next in South Carolina?

2026 is an election year for all 124 members of the SC House of Representatives, the Statewide Officers, the US House of Representatives, and one of our state’s US Senate seats. Filing officially occurs March 16-30, but these known races (as of this magazine’s publication date) will generate the most attention:

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

South Carolina has not had an open race for Governor and Lieutenant Governor since 2010, back when the two offices still ran separate from one another. The first joint ticket was not elected until 2018. The state’s longest serving governor, Henry McMaster, is constitutionally term-limited from running again this year. Here’s who to watch in 2026:

Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) – Wilson has served as the Attorney General since 2010. Wilson’s involvement in the high profile Murdaugh Murders case gave him a significant boost in recognition and reputation, and his father is Congressman Joe Wilson (R-2nd).

Congressman Ralph Norman (R) – Norman has served as the representative for the 5th Congressional District since 2017, and served two stints in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R) – Mace has served as the representative for the 1st Congressional District since 2020. Prior to serving in the US House, Mace served one term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette (R) – Evette was the first South Carolina Lieutenant Governor to be elected on a joint ticket with the Governor in 2018.

State Senator Josh Kimbrell (R) – Kimbrell, a businessman who represents Senate District 11, defeated State Senator Glenn Reese in 2020 to flip the seat to the republican party.

State Representative Jermaine Johnson (D) – Johnson, a businessman representing House District 52, was first elected to the SC House in District 80 in 2020. Due to redistricting, Johnson was drawn into a new House District 70.

Mullins McLeod (D) – McLeod is running for his first chance at public office. As an attorney, his cases involve toxic torts, civil rights violations, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, nursing home abuse, and commercial negligence.

Attorney General

With current Attorney General Alan Wilson running for Governor, those interested in the AG’s office are:

State Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R) – Goldfinch represents Senate District 38, which is parts of Georgetown and Horry Counties. An attorney, Goldfinch was elected to the Senate in 2016 and served in the SC House of Representatives from 2012-2016.

Solicitor David Pascoe (R) – Pascoe was elected solicitor of the First Judicial Circuit in 2004. Pascoe made headlines in 2025 when he announced he was switching parties from Democrat to Republican in his bid for the AG’s office.

Solicitor David Stumbo (R) – Stumbo was elected solicitor of the Eight Judicial Circuit in 2012.

United States Senate

US Senator Lindsey Graham (R) – Graham has served in the Senate since 2003, succeeding Senator Strom Thurmond in office. Graham served one term in the South Carolina House of Representatives, then four terms in the US House of Representatives. Graham is the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee.

Mark Lynch (R) – Lynch, owner of Jeff Lynch Appliance Center, is challenging Graham in the republican primary. He challenged former State Senator Scott Talley (R-Spartanburg) in 2020 but was unsuccessful in his bid.

Dr. Annie Andrews (D) – Andrews is a Charleston pediatrician vying at her chance to unseat Graham. Andrews ran against Congresswoman Nancy Mace in 2022 and was unsuccessful in the general election.

Lee Johnson (D) – Johnson, a political newcomer, is an engineer and businessman who resides in Greenville.

First Congressional District

State Representative Mark Smith (R) – Smith was first elected to the State House in 2020, when the local seat opened as Nancy Mace first ran for Congress.

Dan Brown (R) – Brown is from Bluffton and is employed by a local Land Rover dealership.

Jay Byars (R) – Byars serves on the Dorchester County Council and taught in Dorchester School District 2 before moving to the banking industry.

Jenny Costa Honeycutt (R) – Honeycutt serves on the Charleston County Council and is an attorney.

Logan Cunningham (R) – Cunningham serves on the Beaufort County Council, having been elected twice to the Council.

Tyler Dykes (R) – Dykes, a Marine Corps veteran in Bluffton, is running for his first chance at elected office.

Jack Ellison (R) – From Charleston, Ellison is a US Army veteran.

Sam McCown (R) – McCown is a Charleston physician and businessman, running for his first elected office.

Justin Myers (R) – Myers is a Navy veteran living in Charleston who also owns a moving business.

Alex Pelbath (R) – Pelbath is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force living in Mount Pleasant.

Mac Deford (D) – Deford is a Coast Guard veteran and Charleston-area attorney who also ran for this seat in 2024.

Max Diaz (D) – Diaz, from Hanahan, is the youngest contestant in the democratic field. At 25 years old, Mr. Diaz works as a mechanic.

Matt Fulmer (D) – A waiter in Hilton Head, Fulmer is seeking his first opportunity at elected office.

Mayra Rivera-Vazquez (D) – A retired paralegal, Rivera-Vazquez is the former chair of the Beaufort County Democratic Party.

Fifth Congressional District

State Senator Wes Climer (R) – Climer is a financial by trade and serves as the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Chairman.

Bill Bledsoe (R) – Bledsoe, a veterinarian, faces Climer for the republican nod in the 5th District.

Andrew Clough (D) – Clough is a longtime airline employee who is attempting his first opportunity at elected office.

Mallory Dittmer (D) – Dittmer is a small business owner with over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry.