A Win for South Carolina Jobs: Buy American Iron and Steel Act Signed Into Law

The State of South Carolina just made a strong statement in favor of American manufacturing.  

H.4709, the Buy American Iron and Steel Act, passed both chambers of the South Carolina General Assembly and has been signed by the Governor. This legislation mandates the use of iron and steel manufactured in America for public work projects funded by the state treasury. The notion behind the legislation is rather simple, but it has the strength to stand the test of time: when South Carolina invests taxpayer funds in building materials, those funds should benefit American workers and manufacturers, not our foreign competitors (or enemies). 

Rep. Richard (Ritchie) Yow (R-Chesterfield), the author of the bill, said that his motivation for filing the legislation was all about protecting jobs, including jobs in Nucor Steel’s factory in Darlington. Money invested in government projects, Yow said, should stay in South Carolina communities and should not benefit foreign economies. Put more directly, Palmetto State taxpayer dollars should not be invested in developing the Chinese economy. 

It is an appropriate time for such a bill in South Carolina. There is increased focus across the country on domestic production and American manufacturing industries, and a similar bill passed Congress right before America’s 250th birthday. There is also a symbolic value to the American domestic steel industry for Americans and its role in building economic power for America. 

H.4709 is not unreasonable and inflexible. It considers the needs of purchasers of steel. The bill includes opt-out clauses in cases where using domestic steel would increase expenses or slow construction, and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA) is tasked with preparing implementation guidelines for public bodies. Flexibility is key for this Buy American policy, which, if properly administered, should be practical and convenient for those implementing it and abiding by it. 

The new South Carolina statute builds on existing federal policy. The only difference is that this South Carolina Buy American policy would apply to construction funded by state and local tax dollars, not by the federal treasury. 

Where Do We Go from Here? 

With all necessary legislative and executive approvals complete, the Buy American Iron & Steel Act is in the implementation stage. The State Fiscal Accountability Authority will soon begin its work publishing guidelines for implementing this new rule in our state’s public works projects. 

H.4709 (now Act 256) is solid legislation that is directed at protecting American and South Carolina steelworkers. When South Carolina builds, using South Carolina tax dollars, South Carolina should employ American workers and build with American steel. 

Governor McMaster signed the law on June 30, 2026, making South Carolina one of a growing number of states to extend Buy American requirements beyond federally funded projects to those funded with state and local dollars. The House gave unanimous approval, and only two senators voted against the measure, for a great show of bipartisan unity that underscores just how broadly South Carolinians support keeping public dollars close to home. Texas passed similar legislation in 2017; Florida followed last year, and now South Carolina has joined that list. The Palmetto State is not just keeping pace; it is building the kind of economy its workers deserve.