South Carolina General Assembly

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5299; text: CR S5273)

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5299; text: CR S5272-5273)

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5299)

This bill modifies tax rules to provide relief for individuals affected by major disasters. It allows taxpayers to deduct disaster-related losses (like damaged homes or personal property) more easily by creating a new "disaster loss deduction" that combines certain casualty losses and adjusts for income limits. It also excludes wildfire relief payments (such as compensation for lost wages or home damage not covered by insurance) from taxable income for people in federally declared wildfire areas, effective 2026 through 2030. These changes apply to losses incurred in taxable years starting after 2024, specifically for disasters declared between 2025 and 2027.

The Secure America Act appropriates billions of dollars to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for fiscal year 2026 to expand staffing and operations. These funds are specifically designated for hiring agents to conduct functions other than immigration enforcement and customs duties, as well as for purchasing new technology to combat drug trafficking and improve border surveillance. The legislation includes restrictions that prohibit using the money to recruit processing coordinators after October 2028 and bans the deployment of untested autonomous surveillance towers. A portion of the funding is also set aside to hire investigators and analysts dedicated to identifying and rescuing victims of child sexual exploitation.

Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 This act permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution. Among the changes, the act removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.) The act permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States. Additionally, the act authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business. Finally, the act limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibiting defenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); and discretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries). These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Marine James Capers, Jr., for his acts of valor during the Vietnam War on March 31-April 3, 1967. It directly affects Capers, who previously received the Silver Star for these actions but had not been awarded the Medal of Honor due to time limitations. The bill bypasses standard time restrictions under U.S. Code that typically prevent retroactive Medal of Honor awards. This is a non-procedural policy change that formally enables the award to be granted for specific historical military service.

Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 This act makes several changes to the administration of bankruptcy cases, particularly by increasing amounts received by certain trustees, extending the sunset date of various fees, and extending the term of specified bankruptcy judgeships. (Sec. 3) The act increases the amounts paid out of fees to the trustee in Chapter 7 (liquidation) cases. (Sec. 4) The act extends for an additional five years the fees paid quarterly to the U.S. trustee in Chapter 11 (reorganization) cases. The act also increases the fee percentage for cases with large disbursements, subject to limitations.  (Sec. 5) Finally, temporary bankruptcy judgeships in various districts are extended for an additional five years.