Council Legislative Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2026-03-24
Time: 15:00

Columbia Council Legislative Committee Meeting Agenda
 Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM
 City Hall • Mayor's Conference Room
 1737 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29201
 City Clerk’s Office: (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov

 The Honorable Daniel J. Rickenmann, Mayor
 The Honorable Will Brennan, District III • The Honorable Sam P. Johnson, At-Large


Call to Order

Approval of Minutes

1. August 19, 2025 Council Legislative Committee Meeting Minutes

Committee Discussion

2. Federal Legislative Update - Mr. Ralph Garboushian, Debra DeHaney-Howard and
 Kennedy Bailey, CapitalEdge

 Funding Requests, Grants, and Policies
 Status of Pending Project Requests
 Homeless and Housing Discussions
 2026 Capitol Hill Visit

Executive Session

3. Receipt of legal advice relating to matters covered by attorney-client privilege
 pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2)

 1835 Assembly Street
 1601 Assembly Street

Adjournment




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Columbia Council Legislative Committee Meeting Agenda
 Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM
 City Hall • Mayor's Conference Room
 1737 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29201
 City Clerk’s Office: (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov

 The Honorable Daniel J. Rickenmann, Mayor
 The Honorable Will Brennan, District III • The Honorable Sam P. Johnson, At-Large


 Call to Order

 Approval of Minutes

 1. August 19, 2025 Council Legislative Committee Meeting Minutes

 Committee Discussion

 2. Federal Legislative Update - Mr. Ralph Garboushian, Debra DeHaney-Howard and
 Kennedy Bailey, CapitalEdge

 Funding Requests, Grants, and Policies
 Status of Pending Project Requests
 Homeless and Housing Discussions
 2026 Capitol Hill Visit

 Executive Session

 3. Receipt of legal advice relating to matters covered by attorney-client privilege
 pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2)

 1835 Assembly Street
 1601 Assembly Street

 Adjournment




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 COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025


 CALL TO ORDER

 The Council Legislative Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2025
 at City Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Second Floor, Columbia,
 SC 29201. The Honorable Daniel J. Rickenmann, Mayor called the meeting to order
 at 1:10 p.m. and the following members were present:

 Attendee Name Title Status
 Daniel J. Rickenmann Chair Present
 Will Brennan Member Present
 Aditi Bussells Member Present

 APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 1. Approval of August 13, 2024 September 17, 2024 Council Legislative
 Committee Meeting Minutes – Approved

 Upon a motion made by Mr. Brennan and seconded by Dr. Bussells, the Committee
 voted unanimously to approve the August 13, 2024 and September 17, 2024 Council
 Legislative Committee Meeting Minutes.

 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

 Ms. Pamela Benjamin, CPM, Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services
 acknowledged the team’s efforts during an unusual legislative year. Despite
 challenges, there were several key successes. She thanked everyone for their hard
 work in keeping the City’s priorities at the forefront throughout the session.

 Ms. Payton Lang, Policy and Programs Advisory / Office of the Mayor shared that both
 federal and state sessions were atypical and affected funding progress. She noted
 that federal budget delays stalled the City’s community project requests, which have
 been resubmitted. At the state level, the budget excluded earmarks to support a tax
 reduction from 6.2% to 6%, though the City still received $3.703 million from the
 local government fund. She emphasized the need for continued engagement and
 advocacy to advance City priorities.




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 COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025


 2. Federal Legislative Report - Mr. Ralph Garboushian, CapitalEdge – Received as
 information.
 i. FY 24/25 Federal Legislative Year in Review
 ii. Grant/Funding Updates
 iii. Looking Ahead


 Mr. Ralph Garboushian, CapitalEdge provided a federal legislative update. He noted
 that none of the twelve FY2025 appropriations bills have passed, resulting in a
 continuing resolution and no earmarks. He highlighted the Budget Reconciliation Law,
 which repeals Inflation Reduction Act clean energy incentives, makes Opportunity
 Zones permanent, extends New Markets Tax Credits, and raises the State and Local
 Tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000. For FY2026, most House and Senate
 appropriations bills are advancing, though completion before the September 30 fiscal
 deadline appears unlikely. Both chambers plan to fund Community Block
 Development Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership programs at prior-
 year levels.

 There was discussion about proposed Continuum of Care changes; federal
 uncertainty; monitoring new legislation and executive orders; collaborating with
 federal agencies on housing and homelessness; and shifts in competitive grant
 funding.

 3. State Legislative Report - Mr. Kyle Michel, Kyle Michel Law Firm; Mr. Damon
 Jeter, Jet Corp Consulting Group, LLC; and Ms. Caroline Delleney, Due South
 Advocacy, LLC – Received as information.

 i. FY 24/25 State Legislative Year in Review
 ii. Funding Update
 iii. Looking Ahead


 Mr. Kyle Michel, Kyle Michel Law Firm highlighted several legislative updates. He
 noted strong collaboration with City staff and the Columbia Legislative Delegation to
 advance budget and policy priorities. He explained that all FY2025 state earmarks
 were removed after action by the Senate Finance Committee and House leadership.
 He also highlighted the statewide Hands Free and Distracted Driving Act which
 became effective; liquor liability tort reform, which reduces insurance costs for
 hospitality venues; the Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act, which grants
 municipalities greater authority over utility digging enforcement; and H. 3292 Golf



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 COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025

 Cart Operation, which has been amended to give municipalities the ability to enact
 golf cart operation ordinances within certain limits.

 There was discussion about digital ID going into effect; liquor liability; operations for
 golf carts in regards to business licensing; consolidation of state behavioral-health
 and developmental-disability departments; regulation of vaping products and THC
 consumables; state use of speed cameras; status of red light case study and
 connecting with school districts; stiffer litter fees and penalties; increasing municipal
 fines for criminal offenses; and upcoming dates for pre-filing in the House and the
 Senate.

 OTHER DISCUSSION

 No additional items were discussed at the time.

 EXECUTIVE SESSION

 Upon a motion made by Mr. Brennan and seconded by Dr. Bussells, the Committee
 voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 2:35 p.m. for the discussion of
 Item 4.

 4. Discussion of negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements
 pursuant to S. C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2)

 · Legislative Affairs

 ADJOURNMENT

 The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted:



 Erika D. Moore Hammond, MMC, CPM
 City Clerk




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