Palmetto Promise’s School Choice Efforts Named Finalist for Two Awards

Education
Blog · June 30, 2025

Palmetto Promise Institute is pleased to announce that we have been named a finalist for two State Policy Network awards due to our diligent work to restore school choice for South Carolina families. In the 2024-25 school year, South Carolina’s first ESA program was finally underway, and thousands of low-income families were enrolled in their

Regulatory Makeover: A Fresh Face for Cosmetology Licensing in South Carolina

Quality of Life
Blog · June 30, 2025

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

Protect Local Charities

Tax & Budget
Blog · June 20, 2025

This op ed was originally published in FitsNews. At Palmetto Promise Institute, we believe the best solutions don’t come from Washington — they come from communities. That’s why we were alarmed to see the U.S. House propose a steep tax hike on private foundations, raising the current 1.39% excise tax on investment income to as

Rating South Carolina: Pensions, Elections, & Roads. Oh my!

Quality of Life
Blog · June 19, 2025

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

Federal School Choice at a Crossroads: What the Senate Must Do Next

Education
Blog · June 12, 2025

In May 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping policy package that includes the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a $5 billion annual tax credit scholarship program that could significantly expand educational freedom for families across the country.   This legislation, long championed by parents and

Eliminate Non-Compete Agreements in Physician Contracts

Healthcare
Blog · June 2, 2025

South Carolina took a major step toward patient-centered healthcare with the recent repeal of its outdated Certificate of Need (CON) laws. That reform opened the door for more choice, access, and affordability in our state’s healthcare system. But if we want those gains to last–and grow–we must now address another outdated barrier to competition: non-compete

RELEASE: Beyond Policy Podcast Hosts Roundtable Discussion on South Carolina’s Energy Future – Featuring Congresswoman Sheri Biggs

Energy
Blog · May 27, 2025

MAY 27, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLUMBIA, SC — In a very special episode of the Beyond Policy Podcast released today, Palmetto Promise Institute hosts 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