Twenty days into the new fiscal year, South Carolina still does not have a finalized state budget, delaying millions of dollars in funding for state programs and prompting concerns about future support for SNAP and Medicaid.
Lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on a final spending plan, leaving agencies operating under a continuing resolution that funds government at last year’s levels. New appropriations cannot be distributed until both the House and Senate approve a final budget.
The delay could jeopardize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves more than 200,000 households statewide. Beginning in October, changes under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act will require South Carolina to pay a larger share of SNAP administrative costs. The House’s proposed budget included approximately $34 million to meet those obligations, but the funding cannot be released until a state budget is enacted.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is also awaiting funding. Lawmakers had proposed nearly $100 million to maintain current Medicaid reimbursement rates and services, along with about $15 million to offset higher Medicare premiums for residents eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
The budget conference committee is scheduled to meet again Tuesday. If negotiators reach an agreement, the House and Senate must reconvene to approve the final budget before it can take effect.
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