South Carolina House Bill H5709

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Filed/Introduced: 5/18/26

Caption

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO SET BY SPECIAL ORDER H. 5683, RELATING TO CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING, FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION UPON ADOPTION OF THE SPECIAL ORDER RESOLUTION AND CONTINUING EACH DAY THEREAFTER BY SPECIAL ORDER UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF H. 5683, TO PROVIDE FOR CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS INCLUDING SENATE AMENDMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR DEBATE.

Summary

H. 5709 is a House resolution that sets H. 5683, the congressional redistricting bill, for immediate and continuing special-order consideration in the South Carolina House. If adopted, it would place H. 5683 at the top of the House calendar and keep it there each day until final disposition, ensuring the redistricting measure receives priority floor time. The resolution also tightly controls how the House may debate and amend H. 5683. It limits each member to one amendment from those already on the desk or one new amendment, bars substitute amendments, and sets short, fixed debate times for amendments and for second reading. It further restricts third-reading debate and limits procedural motions, with special rules if the bill returns from the Senate with amendments. In effect, H. 5709 is a procedural resolution designed to manage the House’s consideration of a major redistricting bill rather than to change substantive election law directly.

Impact

H. 5709 does not itself redraw congressional districts or amend the state’s election statutes; instead, it changes House procedure for considering H. 5683, the congressional redistricting measure. Its practical impact is to accelerate and structure legislative action on redistricting, constrain amendment opportunities, and limit debate and procedural delay. The affected parties are House members, legislative leadership, and indirectly voters and political interests affected by the underlying congressional map in H. 5683.

Sentiment

The available text suggests a generally procedural, leadership-driven approach rather than a policy debate on the merits of redistricting itself. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the materials supplied. The resolution’s design implies an effort to move the redistricting bill efficiently through the House while still allowing limited amendment and debate.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely to be the restrictions on amendments, the limits on debate, and the special-order status that prioritizes H. 5683 over other business. Members who want broader debate, more amendment opportunities, or different district lines would likely object to the tight procedural controls, while House leadership would favor the resolution as a way to ensure orderly and timely consideration. The resolution also anticipates possible Senate amendments, indicating that the underlying redistricting bill may be politically sensitive and subject to further negotiation.