Policy & Legislative Intelligence Center
Tracking legislation, regulations, and public policy affecting South Carolina's digital infrastructure.
Legislative Dashboard
Current metrics across all tracked legislative and regulatory items.
Dashboard metrics are updated as new public information is verified and indexed.
Legislative Intelligence Feed
Search and filter all tracked legislation, regulations, and policy actions.
Federal AI Infrastructure & Energy Buildout
Federal policy is encouraging rapid AI infrastructure buildout, including data centers, energy systems, high-voltage transmission, semiconductor facilities, and workforce development. Federal agencies are also identifying federal sites for AI data center and energy infrastructure development.
Grid Modernization & Load Planning Study
Directs the PSC to study grid capacity and load planning ahead of large industrial digital infrastructure interconnections.
Data Center Development Act
Creates a statewide data center development framework. Establishes a Data Center Development Office in the Department of Environmental Services, creates an industry advisory committee, requires siting permits, operational efficiency standards, water efficiency standards, annual reporting, infrastructure adequacy assessments, environmental impact assessments, reasonable buffer requirements, utility cost-allocation review, decommissioning plans, noise/vibration/light mitigation, confidentiality protections, enforcement, penalties, and transition guidance.
Subsea Cable Infrastructure Protection Act
Establishes permitting and environmental review standards for subsea cable landing infrastructure along the South Carolina coast.
Data Center Siting Act
Requires a Public Service Commission certificate before a data center may begin operations in South Carolina. Creates a certification process, hearing record, approval criteria, operational efficiency standards, water efficiency standards, annual reporting, infrastructure adequacy assessments, environmental impact assessments, utility rate and cost-allocation review, decommissioning requirements, and noise/vibration/light mitigation.
Data Center Moratorium Companion Bill
Companion or similar moratorium proposal related to H.5286. Introduced April 14, 2026; referred to House Ways and Means.
Data Center Energy Transparency Act
Requires data center operators above a defined MW threshold to report annual energy and water consumption to the SC Energy Office.
Responsible Infrastructure Incentive Reform
Ties data center FILOT and job development credits to verified permanent job creation and local vendor participation thresholds.
Data Center Moratorium
Proposes a temporary pause on final approval of new data center projects until January 1, 2028. Applies to rezonings, special-use permits, building permits, site plans, and incentive approvals.
Recently Updated Legislation
The five most recently updated legislative items.
Federal AI Infrastructure & Energy Buildout
Federal policy is encouraging rapid AI infrastructure buildout, including data centers, energy systems, high-voltage transmission, semiconductor facilities, and workforce development. Federal agencies are also identifying federal sites for AI data center and energy infrastructure development.
Grid Modernization & Load Planning Study
Directs the PSC to study grid capacity and load planning ahead of large industrial digital infrastructure interconnections.
Data Center Development Act
Creates a statewide data center development framework. Establishes a Data Center Development Office in the Department of Environmental Services, creates an industry advisory committee, requires siting permits, operational efficiency standards, water efficiency standards, annual reporting, infrastructure adequacy assessments, environmental impact assessments, reasonable buffer requirements, utility cost-allocation review, decommissioning plans, noise/vibration/light mitigation, confidentiality protections, enforcement, penalties, and transition guidance.
Subsea Cable Infrastructure Protection Act
Establishes permitting and environmental review standards for subsea cable landing infrastructure along the South Carolina coast.
Data Center Siting Act
Requires a Public Service Commission certificate before a data center may begin operations in South Carolina. Creates a certification process, hearing record, approval criteria, operational efficiency standards, water efficiency standards, annual reporting, infrastructure adequacy assessments, environmental impact assessments, utility rate and cost-allocation review, decommissioning requirements, and noise/vibration/light mitigation.
Local Government Actions
County and municipal ordinances, zoning actions, and committee decisions.
Horry County Data Center Zoning Ordinance Discussion
Horry County considered zoning ordinance amendments related to data centers because the existing zoning ordinance did not specifically address them. Reported issues included setbacks from residential property, facility size, special-use approval, power, water, noise, and compatibility with surrounding communities. The proposal was later paused for additional research.
Policy Topics
Explore legislation organized by policy area.
Data Centers
Legislation affecting data center siting, operations, and community impacts.
Electric Grid
Power infrastructure, utility regulation, and energy capacity planning.
Water Resources
Water usage, wastewater, and water rights related to infrastructure.
Economic Development
Job creation, investment incentives, and local economic impact policy.
Land Use
Zoning, land use planning, and site development regulations.
Tax Incentives
FILOT agreements, tax abatements, and public finance structures.
Broadband
Broadband expansion, connectivity, and digital access initiatives.
Artificial Intelligence
AI regulation, data governance, and emerging technology policy.
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental reviews, sustainability, and ecological protection.
Cybersecurity
Data protection, infrastructure security, and privacy regulations.
How We Track Legislation
Our process for monitoring, organizing, and contextualizing policy information.
Monitor Public Sources
We track legislative databases, county agendas, planning commission minutes, and regulatory filings from official public sources.
How We WorkOrganize Information
Raw legislative data is structured into standardized summaries with jurisdiction, status, topic, and impact context.
How We WorkProvide Context
Each item includes plain-language explanations of what the legislation does and why it matters to South Carolina communities.
How We WorkContinuously Update
Legislative records are living documents — updated as bills move through committees, amendments, votes, and enactment.
How We WorkEvidence Used
Verifying evidence references…
About This Policy Tracker
The Alliance tracks publicly available legislative and regulatory information to help communities better understand how public policy may influence South Carolina's digital infrastructure.
The Alliance does not advocate for or against legislation. Our role is to organize public information, provide context, and encourage informed discussion.