Small businesses are the backbone of the economy in South Carolina. As of 2024, there were 507,620 small businesses (defined as firms with fewer than 500 employees), making up 99.4% of businesses in the Palmetto State. Because of this outsized role in our quality of life, the government should be very reluctant to interfere with
If you’ve been around South Carolina for any length of time, you’ve heard the grumbling about our state roads. The subject of many jokes and complaints about the state over the years, there seems to be a common belief that the Palmetto State is among the worst in the nation for roads and other infrastructure.
On November 3, 2026, South Carolina will hold its next gubernatorial General election. In other words, a new individual will be selected as the Palmetto State’s 119th governor next year. And the race is already making the headlines, over a year out! Governor Henry McMaster, the incumbent, will not be able to run again due
In a bold step forward, Montana has become the first state to secure the “Right to Compute,” a law that could influence the future of technology, personal freedom, and economic innovation. Senate Bill 212, signed into law in April 2025 by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R), affirms that individuals and businesses have a constitutional right
As the American automotive industry continues to evolve, several new manufacturers have pursued an alternative go-to-market strategy to the traditional franchised dealer model by creating their own retail operations and selling directly to customers. That list includes Tesla, now one of the world’s biggest automakers, along with growing startups like Rivian and Lucid. It also
Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb? Perhaps you or someone you know has rented out a property—or booked someone else’s through VRBO—either to save money or bring in extra income. Well, now in South Carolina you can do the same thing with your personal cars. Peer-to-peer car sharing allows individual car owners to rent out
Have you ever felt the need to speak out against a powerful entity— such as a large corporation, government regulatory agency, or public figure— only to worry about getting sued for it? In South Carolina, that is a very legitimate concern. The Palmetto State lacks basic protections against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs,
Currently in South Carolina, an estimated 17,057 potential job opportunities have been regulated out of existence by overreaching state occupational licensing laws and regulations. Now, don’t get us wrong. Because of health, safety, and consumer protection concerns, standards are important. But our state’s licensing system is currently placing unnecessary roadblocks in front of many South
At Palmetto Promise Institute, we are big on ratings and rankings. If done properly, a grade or score in a policy area can help a state know where it stands on freedom issues and how efficiently and effectively that state spends taxpayer dollars. Comparisons to neighboring states can be particularly useful. Trusted national organizations produce
This commentary by Palmetto Promise board chair Phil Hughes was originally published in the Post and Courier. From stem to stern, South Carolina’s lawsuit system is broken — and anyone who’s run a small business, owned a restaurant that offered alcohol or driven a truck knows it. Sky-high insurance rates, nuclear verdicts and the chilling
