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S 1164

Call for an Article V Convention of States on Federal Fiscal Responsibility

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Billy Garrett and 2 co-sponsors

South Carolina seeks to trigger an Article V Convention to pursue constitutional amendments aimed at federal fiscal responsibility, including spending and debt controls.

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Bill Summary · S 1164

Summary of Bill S. 1164 (2025-2026 Session) – South Carolina

Title

Call for an Article V Convention of States on Federal Fiscal Responsibility

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill directs consideration of initiating a process to convene an Article V Convention of States (a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution) to address federal fiscal responsibility.
  • The central objective is to pursue constitutional amendments aimed at improving or enforcing fiscal discipline at the federal level, particularly regarding government spending, debt, and deficits.

Key Provisions and Changes Proposed

  • Petition for Convention of States:
    • The bill advocates for sending a call or authorization to convene an Article V Convention among states for the purpose of proposing amendments related to federal fiscal responsibility.
  • Scope of Amendments:
    • While the bill’s text as summarized here emphasizes “federal fiscal responsibility,” it is typical for such calls to focus on amendments related to balanced-budget requirements, debt limitations, spending restraints, or fiscal governance mechanisms. The exact proposed amendments would be determined by the convention delegates and any subsequent applications from the state.
  • State Action:
    • If adopted, South Carolina would join other states in requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V, under the specific topic of federal fiscal responsibility.
  • Legislative Trigger and Procedure:
    • The bill outlines formal steps to initiate the process, including:
    • Introduction in the Senate.
    • Referral to the Committee on Judiciary for review.
    • The bill includes a formal sponsor slate:
    • Primary sponsor (not listed in the provided data) and co-sponsors: Ed Sutton, Billy Garrett, Rex Rice.
  • No immediate fiscal changes:
    • The bill itself does not enact federal fiscal policy or alter state budget law; rather, it seeks to initiate a constitutional process at the federal level.

Who and What Would Be Affected

  • Affected Entities:
    • State of South Carolina, its legislature, and its congressional delegation.
    • The broader national process for amending the U.S. Constitution, should the call for a Convention of States be approved and pursued by enough states.
  • Impacts if the Convention Occurs:
    • Potentially significant constitutional changes at the federal level concerning how the federal government handles spending, deficits, and debt.
    • Any resulting amendments would require ratification by three-fourths of the states to take effect.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Status:
    • Introduced in the 2025-2026 session on April 30, 2026.
    • Referred to the Committee on Judiciary on the same date.
  • Next Steps:
    • Committee review could lead to amendments, a committee report, and a floor vote in the Senate.
    • If passed, the bill would typically move to the House (not specified in the provided data) for a companion or subsequent steps, depending on the state’s legislative structure.
  • Temporal Uncertainties:
    • Article V conventions involve federal action (Congress) and multi-state cooperation; passage of this bill does not guarantee a convention but initiates the process by requesting a convention call.

Notes

  • The bill is framed within the broader national debate around federal fiscal policy and constitutional reform via an Article V convention.
  • As with other Article V efforts, proponents emphasize state-led action to constrain federal spending, while opponents raise concerns about risks and uncertainties inherent in amending the U.S. Constitution through a convention.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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