Beyond Policy

2026 Policy Briefing: What’s Next for Comprehensive Tax Reform in South Carolina?

Before the 2026 legislative session begins, Dr. Oran Smith presents a deep-dive tax policy briefing examining how South Carolina raises revenue—where we stand among our neighbors, and where reform opportunities exist. This briefing explains how federal conformity affects our tax code, how income tax rates influence our state’s competitiveness, and what policymakers should consider regarding sales, property, manufacturing, and business license taxes.  For the full video webinar including Dr. Smith’s slides, watch this briefing on Youtube: https://youtu.be/8cXJJ_C8xYA?si=lTrx0cfAde0avo8x [https://youtu.be/8cXJJ_C8xYA?si=lTrx0cfAde0avo8x]

2026 Policy Briefing: Healthcare Reforms on the Horizon in South Carolina

Before the 2026 legislative session starts, Dr. Oran Smith presents a deep dive into one of South Carolina’s most pressing challenges: access to affordable, high-quality healthcare—especially in rural communities. Using national comparisons, workforce statistics, and regulatory insights, his briefing walks listeners through the current scope-of-practice debate surrounding advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs), the reforms being considered, and what other states are doing differently. Other topics include transparency in medical billing, portable benefits, physician non-compete agreements, and more. This is a can’t-miss episode for lawmakers and citizens alike who care about the healthcare debates our state is facing. For the full video webinar including Dr. Smith’s slides, you can watch this briefing on Youtube: https://youtu.be/eI4iCBFDXi4?si=F3SKN_ozXL3V3pgn [https://youtu.be/eI4iCBFDXi4?si=F3SKN_ozXL3V3pgn]

2026 Policy Briefing: The State of Education in South Carolina with Ryan Dellinger

Before the 2026 legislative session kicks off, our team has prepared a series of policy briefings on some of the most important issues the South Carolina General Assembly will face in 2026. Palmetto Promise’s Director of Education Policy Ryan Dellinger takes the outlines trends lawmakers should watch, opportunities for reform, and the policy choices that could better serve students and families in 2026 and beyond. This briefing explains where SC stands today on student-based funding and weighted pupil categories, transparency in school spending, ESA scholarship implementation and expansion, charter school facility and bonding challenges, and the state’s draft public school choice guidelines. For the full video webinar including Ryan’s slides, watch this briefing on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Wxqu_--EPxU?si=0WSqjaqfPoGEyyiB [https://youtu.be/Wxqu_--EPxU?si=0WSqjaqfPoGEyyiB]

Victoria Avramovic – The Sandbox Revolution: How North Carolina is Embracing Innovation and What South Carolina Can Do to Keep Up | Season 2, Episode 6

In this episode of Beyond Policy, Victoria Avramovic, Executive Director of the North Carolina Innovation Council, discusses the dynamic landscape of innovation in North Carolina, particularly in the fintech sector and with the state’s new regulatory sandbox program. She highlights the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, the role of regulatory flexibility in fostering innovation, and the establishment of a sandbox environment for testing new technologies while ensuring consumer protection. The conversation delves into the establishment of the North Carolina Innovation Council, focusing on its legislative support, the role of regulatory sandboxes in fostering innovation, and the importance of understanding blockchain and digital currency. Avramovic discusses the collaborative efforts to ensure consumer protection while promoting economic growth through technology, and she emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation in regulatory practices to keep pace with innovation. South Carolina has much to learn from North Carolina’s approach to innovation, and Palmetto Promise hopes that the Palmetto State will join the Tarheels in establishing a reciprocal regulatory sandbox, designed to improve the economy and embrace regulatory freedom in both states. To learn more about regulatory sandboxes, visit https://palmettopromise.org/economy25/embrace-fintech-innovation/ [https://palmettopromise.org/economy25/embrace-fintech-innovation/]

A Roundtable Discussion on South Carolina's Energy Future – Featuring Congresswoman Sheri Biggs and Other Distinguished Guests | Season 2, Episode 5

This very special episode of Beyond Policy features a roundtable discussion focused on the energy landscape in South Carolina, highlighting the state's growth, the challenges faced by the nuclear energy sector, and the importance of energy in both economic development and national defense. We were pleased to be joined by a very distinguished panel: Congresswoman Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Dr. Jody Lipford (professor at Francis Marion University), Michael Mule (partner with SURGE Public Affairs), Susie Shannon (President & CEO of SC Competes), Brigadier General Robin Stilwell (Adjutant General of South Carolina), and Rick Todd (President & CEO of the SC Trucking Association).   We discuss the lessons learned from the VC Summer nuclear project, the future of nuclear energy, the role of artificial intelligence in energy solutions, and the significance of energy security for military operations. The enlightening conversation emphasizes the need for competitive energy pricing and workforce development to attract industries and support economic growth.