Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · South Carolina
Brian Adams
Republican · State Senator

Brian Adams

Represents District 44 in the State Senate.

Votes with Republicans
76%
on 82 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 84%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 700 of 703 roll calls · Senate median 94%
Their bills that became law
4 of 25
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 7
Roll calls on record
703
126th General Assembly
Votes and bills updated Oct 5, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 126th General Assembly.

How Brian Adams votes

A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.

Where Brian Adams sits in the Senate

Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Brian Adams is circled.

Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party

20 of 82 party-line votes, most recent 10 shown.

S0052 · Driving under the influence
In plain English Increases penalties for driving under the influence, requires victim impact panels, creates a second-degree felony DUI offense, and revises testing and license suspension procedures.
Nay
Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers · 2026-06-25 · Failed 23–13 · most Republicans voted the other way
H5683 · Redistricting, Congressional Districts
In plain English Establishes new congressional election districts for South Carolina and repeals the previous district boundaries.
Yea
Senate: To Continue The Bill · 2026-05-26 · Passed 26–18 · most Republicans voted the other way
H3021 · Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act
In plain English Requires legislative approval for regulations with estimated costs of one million dollars or more over five years, and makes related changes to regulatory review and judicial processes.
Nay
Senate: To Concur · 2026-05-14 · Failed 22–22 · most Republicans voted the other way
S0222 · Utility terrain vehicle
In plain English Allows utility terrain vehicles to be registered and operated on state highways and streets, and permits farmers with certain licenses to operate them without restrictions.
Yea
Senate: To Concur · 2026-05-13 · Passed 26–18 · most Republicans voted the other way
S0222 · Utility terrain vehicle
In plain English Allows utility terrain vehicles to be registered and operated on state highways and streets, and permits farmers with certain licenses to operate them without restrictions.
Yea
Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number Rfh-1 · 2026-05-13 · Failed 19–24 · most Republicans voted the other way
H3924 · Hemp-derived ingestible
In plain English Requires regulation of the sale of hemp-derived consumable products.
Nay
Senate: To Concur · 2026-04-29 · Failed 16–25 · most Republicans voted the other way
S0933 · Legislative compensation
In plain English Increases combined legislative compensation and service allowance for state lawmakers to $47,500, adjusted every two years by inflation up to five percent.
Yea
Senate: 2nd Reading · 2026-04-28 · Passed 24–18 · most Republicans voted the other way
H5126 · Budget
In plain English Appropriates funds and provides revenues for South Carolina state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
Nay
Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number 43a · 2026-04-23 · Failed 19–23 · most Republicans voted the other way
H5126 · Budget
In plain English Appropriates funds and provides revenues for South Carolina state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
Yea
Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number 64 · 2026-04-23 · Failed 17–25 · most Republicans voted the other way
H5126 · Budget
In plain English Appropriates funds and provides revenues for South Carolina state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
Yea
Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number 38 · 2026-04-23 · Passed 24–18 · most Republicans voted the other way
Closest votes they cast

Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.

H3021 · Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act
In plain English Requires legislative approval for regulations with estimated costs of one million dollars or more over five years, and makes related changes to regulatory review and judicial processes.
Nay
Senate: To Concur · 2026-05-14 · Failed 22–22
H5126 · Budget
In plain English Appropriates funds and provides revenues for South Carolina state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
Yea
Senate: To Adopt Amendment No, 4 · 2026-04-21 · Passed 21–20
H3924 · Hemp-derived ingestible
In plain English Requires regulation of the sale of hemp-derived consumable products.
Yea
Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number 20 · 2026-03-18 · Passed 19–18
S0052 · Driving under the influence
In plain English Increases penalties for driving under the influence, requires victim impact panels, creates a second-degree felony DUI offense, and revises testing and license suspension procedures.
Yea
Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number 45 · 2026-02-04 · Failed 22–23
H5683 · Redistricting, Congressional Districts
In plain English Establishes new congressional election districts for South Carolina and repeals the previous district boundaries.
Yea
Senate: Rule 15b · 2026-05-26 · Failed 20–24
Democrats they vote with most

Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.

Kent WilliamsDemocrat · District 30 · 125 shared contested votes
65%
Darrell JacksonDemocrat · District 21 · 110 shared contested votes
57%
Russell OttDemocrat · District 26 · 124 shared contested votes
56%
Their session, month by month

Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (3 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.

2025-01: 9 roll calls, 1 without a Yea or Nay2025-02: 35 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-03: 31 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-04: 168 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-05: 66 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-01: 5 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-02: 41 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-03: 67 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-04: 181 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-05: 85 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-06: 14 roll calls, 1 without a Yea or Nay2026-08: 1 roll calls, 1 without a Yea or NayJan 2025Jan 2026Aug 2026
← South Carolina Delegation
Their bills, from filing to law

Bills Brian Adams was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.

Introduced25
Out of committee7
Passed one chamber7
Passed both chambers4
Became law4
Never left committee18

For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.

Civil Air Patrol Leave Act
In plain English Requires employers to provide unpaid leave for employees who are Civil Air Patrol members performing official duties.
Official synopsis: Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Enacting The "civil Air Patrol Leave Act" By Adding Chapter 23 To Title 25 So As To Define Neccessary Terms, To Provide For The Creation And Administration Of Civil Air Patrol Leave, To Provide The Duties Of…
Became lawAct No. 250 · 2026-07-01
Melinda Pounder
Recognize And Honor Melinda Pounder Of Jennie Moore Elementary In Mount Pleasant And To Congratulate Her Upon Being Chosen As An Extra Ordinary Educator By Curriculum Associates.
Became lawScrivener's error corrected · 2026-05-14
Mistreating Horses Prohibited
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Article 11 Of Chapter 3, Title 47, Relating To Taunting, Tormenting, Injuring, Or Killing Police Dogs Or Horses, So As To Expand The Conduct That Results In A Violation, Increase The Penalties, Require Restitution To The…
Not out of committeeScrivener's error corrected · 2026-05-06
License plate reader system
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 23-1-235 So As To Define Terms Related To License Plate Reader Systems, To Provide That Only Certain Entities May Use An Automatic License Plate Reader System, And To Provide Guidelines For The Ways In Which…
Not out of committeeCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary · 2026-04-09
Drug Free Homeless Service Zones
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 44-53-447 So As To Provide That It Is Unlawful To Knowingly And Intentionally Possess, Sell, Distribute, Manufacture, Or Purchase A Controlled Substance In A Drug-free Homeless Zone, And To Provide Penalties For Violations Of The…
Not out of committeeReferred to Committee on Judiciary · 2026-04-01
Designated camp sites for the homeless population
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 27-48-10 So As To Provide Defintions For The Chapter; By Adding Section 27-48-20 So As To Provide That A County, Municipality, Or Other Political Subdivision May Designate Property To Be Used For No Longer Than…
Not out of committeeReferred to Committee on Judiciary · 2026-04-01
Drug Induced Homicide
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 16-3-80 So As To Create The Offense Of Drug-induced Homicide And To Provide A Penalty; And To Amend Section 16-1-10, Relating To The Exemption From The Categorization Of Felonies And Misdemeanors, So As To Include…
Passed one chamberReferred to Committee on Judiciary · 2026-03-24
Assault and Battery, corrections officials
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 16-3-600, Relating To Assault And Battery Offenses, So As To Add That Assault And Battery Of A High And Aggravated Nature Occurs When A Person Injures A Corrections Officer In The Discharge Of Or Because…
Not out of committeeReferred to Committee on Judiciary · 2026-02-04
Bail Bondsmen
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 38-53-10, Relating To Definitions For Bail Bondsmen And Runners So As To Define "director" As The Chief Of The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; And By Amending Section 38-53-20, Relating To Enforcement Of Chapter On…
Not out of committeeReferred to Committee on Banking and Insurance · 2026-01-13
Commander Cara T. L. Lowry retirement
A Senate Resolution To Recognize And Honor Commander Cara T.l. Lowry Of The United States Coast Guard, Upon The Occasion Of Her Retirement After Twenty-eight Years Of Outstanding Service, And To Wish Her Continued Success And Happiness In All Her Future Endeavors.
Became lawScrivener's error corrected · 2025-05-07
Laniesha Williams-Flood
A Senate Resolution To Recognize And Thank Laniesha Williams-flood For Implementing The Like A Boss Mentoring Program At Sangaree Middle School In Ladson.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2025-05-01
Telecommunication Location Information
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 23-3-340 So As To Provide That Upon Request Of A Law Enforcement Agency, A Wireless Telecommunications Carrier Shall Provide Call Location Information Concerning The Telecommunications Device Of The User To The Law Enforcement Agency In…
Passed one chamberReferred to Committee on Judiciary · 2025-05-01
Strangulation
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 16-3-605 So As To Define The Term "strangulation," Create The Offenses Of Strangulation And Aggravated Strangulation, Provide Penalties For The Offenses, And Provide An Exception.
Not out of committeeCommittee report: Favorable Judiciary · 2025-04-29
Military Base TIF
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 31-12-30, Relating To The Definition Of "redevelopment Project," So As To Include Affordable Housing Projects; By Amending Section 31-12-210, Relating To Issuance Of Obligations For A Redevelopment Project By Municipality, So As To Increase The…
Passed one chamberReferred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs · 2025-04-03
Short Term Rentals
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 6-1-195 So As To Permit A Governing Body Of A Municipality, County, Or Other Political Subdivision Of The State To Enact Or Enforce An Ordinance, Resolution, Or Regulation That Prohibits The Rental Of A Residential…
Not out of committeeScrivener's error corrected · 2025-03-19

“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.

Loading committees…
H5126 · 2026-08-11
Budget (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 37-2
Absent
H3021 · 2026-06-25
Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
H4763 · 2026-06-25
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers)
Failed · 29-9
Yea
H4763 · 2026-06-25
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers)
Passed · 33-6
Yea
H4763 · 2026-06-25
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: To Adopt The Free Conference Report)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
H3924 · 2026-06-25
Hemp-derived ingestible (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 27-11
Yea
S0011 · 2026-06-25
Paid Family Leave Eligible State Employee (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
H3387 · 2026-06-25
Unlawful occupants of property (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
S0428 · 2026-06-25
Fraudulent Check Expungement (Senate: To Override The Veto)
Passed · 36-3
Yea
H4069 · 2026-06-25
Patient-Friendly Billing (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
H3558 · 2026-06-25
Commissioners to Article V Convention (Senate: To Override The Veto)
Passed · 20-5
Absent
S0052 · 2026-06-25
Driving under the influence (Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers)
Failed · 23-13
Nay
H4300 · 2026-06-25
Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 36-3
Yea
H4709 · 2026-06-25
US produced iron and steel (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 36-2
Yea
S0238 · 2026-06-25
Sine Die (Senate: To Override The Veto)
Passed · 39-0
Yea
H5683 · 2026-05-26
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: Rule 15b)
Failed · 20-24
Yea
H5683 · 2026-05-26
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: To Continue The Bill)
Passed · 26-18
Yea
H5683 · 2026-05-22
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number 19)
Failed · 0-39
Nay
H5683 · 2026-05-22
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: Motion To Suspend Rule 15)
Failed · 25-15
Yea
H5683 · 2026-05-22
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: Motion To Suspend Rule 15)
Failed · 26-15
Yea
H3021 · 2026-05-14
Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (Senate: To Concur)
Failed · 22-22
Nay
H4591 · 2026-05-14
Stop Harm from Addictive Social Media (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 42-1
Yea
S0832 · 2026-05-14
University Campus Events Zoning (Senate: To Concur)
Passed · 35-7
Yea
S0508 · 2026-05-14
Monuments (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
H5018 · 2026-05-14
Agency Head Salary Commission, Governor and Lt. Governor (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 41-2
Yea
S0688 · 2026-05-14
DEW UI Tax Code (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
H4709 · 2026-05-14
US produced iron and steel (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
H4763 · 2026-05-14
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 44-0
Yea
H3558 · 2026-05-13
Commissioners to Article V Convention (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 38-2
Yea
S0222 · 2026-05-13
Utility terrain vehicle (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
Passed · 29-14
Yea
S0222 · 2026-05-13
Utility terrain vehicle (Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number Rfh-1)
Failed · 19-24
Yea
S0222 · 2026-05-13
Utility terrain vehicle (Senate: To Concur)
Passed · 26-18
Yea
H5538 · 2026-05-13
Guarantee Banking Act (Senate: To Lay On The Table)
Failed · 17-23
Nay
H5538 · 2026-05-13
Guarantee Banking Act (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 38-2
Yea
H4042 · 2026-05-13
Ivermectin (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 38-3
Yea
H5217 · 2026-05-13
Deer tags (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
H5120 · 2026-05-13
Fingerprinting, offenses by minors (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 43-0
Yea
S0688 · 2026-05-13
DEW UI Tax Code (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
Passed · 44-0
Yea
H4589 · 2026-05-13
Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 40-2
Yea
H4303 · 2026-05-13
Cigarettes for heating (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 36-4
Yea
H3570 · 2026-05-13
Disclosure of Economic Interests (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
H4706 · 2026-05-13
Racing facility (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 40-0
Yea
H5122 · 2026-05-12
Internet and Communications Service Providers Equipment (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 35-8
Yea
S0454 · 2026-05-12
Charter School Accountability (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
Passed · 43-0
Yea
S0961 · 2026-05-12
Red drum, saltwater fish, deer hunting (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
Passed · 43-0
Yea
S0883 · 2026-05-12
Sine Die 2026 (Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number Rfh-2)
Passed · 31-15
Yea
S0883 · 2026-05-12
Sine Die 2026 (Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number Rfh-3)
Passed · 30-16
Yea
S0883 · 2026-05-12
Sine Die 2026 (Senate: To Concur)
Failed · 29-17
Yea
H4476 · 2026-05-12
SC-Bahamas Trade Commission (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 46-0
Yea
H4382 · 2026-05-12
Nonprescription Ephedrine Products (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 46-0
Yea
S0831 · 2026-05-12
SCDOT Modernization (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
Passed · 43-0
Yea
H4000 · 2026-05-12
Alcohol licensing (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 45-0
Yea
H3569 · 2026-05-12
Domestic violence in rental properties (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 42-4
Yea
H5113 · 2026-05-12
Manufactured and modular homes (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 46-0
Yea
H5122 · 2026-05-07
Internet and Communications Service Providers Equipment (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 41-5
Yea
H5208 · 2026-05-07
Sales Tax Exemption (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 46-0
Yea
H4679 · 2026-05-07
South Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 46-0
Yea
H4163 · 2026-05-07
South Carolina High School Athletic Association (Senate: 3rd Reading)
Passed · 24-17
Yea
H5113 · 2026-05-07
Manufactured and modular homes (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 46-0
Yea
H4189 · 2026-05-07
DHEC Restructuring (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Passed · 43-3
Yea
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 703 total roll-call votes this session).
Voting data provided by LegiScan, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Primary Office
Sources:
Follow Brian Adams

One email a week, only when there’s something: every time they broke with their party, and the closest votes they cast. Free, and you can stop any time.

+ Advertise on this pageReach District 44 constituents