Publications

South Carolina legislators are, in the 2025-26 session, amidst a serious debate about expanding healthcare access and scope of practice in our state. At the most fundamental level, scope of practice (SOP) in healthcare policy is defined as “the activities and duties [tasks] that a licensed or certified healthcare professional is permitted to perform, based

In January 2025, The Nation’s Report Card released the scores from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade math and reading—though South Carolina has not tested 12th grade math since 2013. Usually administered every other year, NAEP gives us a snapshot of our academic achievement. When paired with

South Carolina’s electricity market is at a crossroads. Composed of utilities operating under a vertically integrated model with limited competition, the state faces growing pressure to reduce costs, find new generation, and ensure long-term grid reliability. While efforts like the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM) have introduced modest reforms among a subset of utilities in

The lawsuit industry in South Carolina is out of control. Drive down any highway in our state, and you’ll see it lined with billboards for trial lawyers. The sheer quantity are a clear sign that something in our state is sorely wrong. Businesses with as little as 1% of fault are paying 100% of the

Palmetto Promise Institute’s new research report Achieving Prosperity, Stability, & Fairness: Essential South Carolina Tax Reforms lays out the tax code changes that state legislators would be wise to prioritize in the 2025-26 legislative session. INTRODUCTION Palmetto Promise Institute has produced two major reports assessing the competitiveness and fairness of the South Carolina tax code (2014;

This report examines policies relating to free speech and expression within South Carolina public institutions of higher education. Declarations of intent or belief like the Chicago Statement are admirable, but the proof is in the pudding—or in specific policies, rather.

We are excited to share our latest energy report, which looks at the possibility of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a solution to what is undoubtedly an energy crisis in South Carolina. DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT. What is the current state of energy in South Carolina? South Carolina’s energy status is characterized by outrageous costs

The Center Square highlights PPI's "Assessing the Spectrum of Reform" report.

South Carolina has high residential electricity bills. Recently, they were the highest in the nation (2016). But there are innovations that can provide relief.

Today, Palmetto Promise Institute unveiled South Carolina’s first-of-its-kind data tool to compare key education metrics across the entire state and by individual school district.