South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called the General Assembly back to Columbia for an extraordinary session on May 14, 2026, directing lawmakers to return to the State House to address legislative business that the governor determined could not wait until the regular session calendar resumed. The announcement followed a week in which Governor McMaster also appointed new leadership at the South Carolina Department of Public Health and convened state emergency management officials for a media briefing on hurricane season preparation.
The call for an extraordinary — or special — session is a formal executive action that compels the legislature to reconvene outside its regular schedule. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the governor has the authority to convene the General Assembly for special sessions when extraordinary occasions require it. The precise agenda for the session, including any bills or matters designated for consideration, would be determined in coordination with legislative leadership in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The governor’s office also announced on May 15 that Governor McMaster had named an acting director for the South Carolina Department of Public Health — a significant appointment given that DPH oversees public health infrastructure across all 46 counties, including Spartanburg. The acting director designation reflects a transition at the state health agency and comes during a period when DPH has been active on multiple public health fronts, including an earlier measles outbreak centered in Spartanburg County and ongoing hurricane season preparation guidance ahead of the June 1 season start.
On May 13, Governor McMaster joined emergency management officials to announce a media briefing on hurricane season readiness — timing that aligned with National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3-9) and South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Month. The briefing brought together state emergency management and public health leadership to communicate preparedness priorities ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director, had earlier described the agency’s medical shelter infrastructure and post-storm recovery capabilities as part of that preparedness communication.
For Spartanburg County, the governor’s actions this week carry immediate relevance on multiple fronts. The appointment of acting leadership at DPH affects the agency responsible for public health response at the county level. The extraordinary session, once its agenda is published, may include legislation that affects Spartanburg County employers, schools, or infrastructure — including any budget measures, workforce bills, or economic development incentives that were left unresolved during the regular session.
Governor McMaster’s administration has maintained an active relationship with Spartanburg County through economic development announcements, visits to local employers, and engagement with Upstate regional priorities. His office’s weekly schedule announcements, released each Monday, detail upcoming engagements including ceremonial signings, economic announcements, and public appearances. Spartanburg residents can follow the governor’s activity through governor.sc.gov/news.
