Cal Forrest

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

• ›Jobs & cost of living154 with · 9 against163 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Hemp-derived ingestible

    On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

    Apr 21, 2026 · Failed 46–61 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Income tax

    Sets individual income tax rates at 1.99% on the first $30,000 and 5.39% above, adds a state deduction in place of the federal standard deduction, and cuts rates further when projected income tax revenue grows at least 5%.

    May 7, 2025 · Passed 64–47 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

    On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and relocation costs from doctors who leave within three years; applies to new and renewed contracts.

    Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 48–62 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Rights & public safety53 with · 0 against53 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Redistricting, Congressional Districts

    Replaces the congressional district map with new boundaries for the seven U.S. House districts (by county, voting district and census block), repeals the current district statute, and holds a special U.S. House primary on August 18, 2026 that replaces the June 9 results.

    May 20, 2026 · Passed 74–37 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Mar 26, 2025 · Failed 34–77 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    State Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement

    Renames the Commission for Minority Affairs the State Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement, removes the requirement that most members be African American, refocuses it on rural and under-resourced communities, and deletes duties such as Voting Rights Act assistance.

    May 7, 2025 · Passed 76–31 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Education & families48 with · 1 against49 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Mar 26, 2025 · Failed 34–77 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    School Expulsion

    Apr 29, 2026 · Failed 34–70 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    University Campus Events Zoning

    Bars counties and cities from restricting or requiring land-use approval for board-approved events on state-supported college campuses, while applying safety laws; requires public and neighborhood notice for certain outdoor events within 1,000 feet of residential neighborhoods.

    May 13, 2026 · Passed 69–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Health & care28 with · 1 against29 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Hemp-derived ingestible

    On the version voted Mar 19, 2026: Sets up licensing and regulation of hemp-derived beverages and chewables under the Department of Revenue, with a 10 milligram per serving THC cap, a minimum sales age of 21, and excise taxes.

    Apr 21, 2026 · Failed 46–61 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Abortion-Inducing Drugs

    On the version voted Feb 5, 2026: Makes it a felony, punishable by up to five years, to provide a pregnant woman abortion-inducing drugs to cause an abortion, with exceptions for lawful medical care; makes mifepristone and misoprostol controlled substances, bars possession without a prescription except by pregnant women, and allows civil suits.

    Feb 4, 2026 · Passed 81–31 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition

    On the version voted Mar 26, 2026: Voids noncompete clauses in physician contracts that limit where or how long a doctor may practice or bar treating former patients, while letting employers recoup certain bonuses and relocation costs from doctors who leave within three years; applies to new and renewed contracts.

    Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 48–62 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Climate & energy15 with · 0 against15 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Electrical Utilities

    May 1, 2025 · Passed 88–13 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Fishing

    On the version voted May 5, 2026: Bans fishing at any time on the J. Foster Jeffords Causeway across Forest Lake on Knollwood Road in Florence County. Violators face a fine of up to $25 or up to 30 days in jail.

    Apr 14, 2026 · Passed 87–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Energy

    Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 88–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All climate & energy votes
• ›Transportation14 with · 0 against14 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    SC Hands-Free Act

    On the version voted May 7, 2025: Bars drivers from holding a phone or other mobile device or texting or watching video while driving, with hands-free exceptions; sets a $100 fine for a first offense and $200 plus two license points for repeat offenses, with only warnings for the first 180 days.

    Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 70–29 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Failure to stop a motor vehicle

    May 7, 2025 · Passed 95–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Motor Vehicles

    Apr 22, 2025 · Passed 87–23 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Technology & privacy9 with · 0 against9 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, morphed images

    Apr 1, 2025 · Passed 96–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Second Amendment Privacy Act

    Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 85–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Internet and Communications Service Providers Equipment

    May 14, 2026 · Passed 92–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All technology & privacy votes
• ›Foreign affairs & defense2 with · 1 against3 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Foreign Influence Operations Out of American Education Act

    Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 91–13 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Veterans' Children Tuition Assistance

    May 6, 2025 · Passed 101–7 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    SC-Bahamas Trade Commission

    On the version voted May 12, 2026: Creates a 15-member South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission, appointed by the Speaker, the Senate President and the Governor, to advance trade and investment between South Carolina and The Bahamas.

    May 14, 2026 · Passed 108–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes
• ›Housing & rent3 with · 0 against3 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Evictions

    Requires eviction filings and records to be removed from public court indexes and publicly accessible files seven years after the case's final disposition or filing if no later filing is recorded, starting January 1, 2027.

    May 13, 2026 · Passed 81–28 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Homeowners Association Authority

    Feb 27, 2025 · Passed 110–2 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All housing & rent votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 6 of 295 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (4), Health & care (4), Rights & public safety (1)

• Budget

  What it does: On the version voted Aug 11, 2026: Appropriates money and provides revenues for the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, regulates how those funds are spent, and sets other…

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 30–0, Republicans 32–42

  May 6, 2026Official record ↗

• Intoxicating Hemp Beverages

  What it does: Bans the sale and possession of hemp-derived THC products except hemp beverages, which are limited to 5 milligrams of THC per 12-ounce can, sold only to people 21 and older through licensed liquor stores, and taxed li…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–30, Republicans 61–20

  Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗

• Intoxicating Hemp Beverages

  What it does: Bans the sale and possession of hemp-derived THC products except hemp beverages, which are limited to 5 milligrams of THC per 12-ounce can, sold only to people 21 and older through licensed liquor stores, and taxed li…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–30, Republicans 50–30

  Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗

• Intoxicating Hemp Beverages

  What it does: Bans the sale and possession of hemp-derived THC products except hemp beverages, which are limited to 5 milligrams of THC per 12-ounce can, sold only to people 21 and older through licensed liquor stores, and taxed li…

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 28–1, Republicans 35–49

  Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗

• Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Regulation

  What it does: On the version voted Feb 5, 2026: Requires e-cigarette makers to certify their products' federal authorization status to be listed in an Attorney General directory, bans selling unlisted vaping products starting in 20…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–23, Republicans 44–35

  Jan 21, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

• Yes

  Redistricting, Congressional Districts

  With most of their party · Passed 74–37 · Yes 74–No 37 · Democrats 0–33, Republicans 74–4

  May 20, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  Special Order, H. 5683

  With most of their party · Passed 73–33 · Yes 73–No 33 · Democrats 0–32, Republicans 73–1

  May 18, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  With most of their party · Failed 34–77 · Yes 34–No 76 · Democrats 33–0, Republicans 1–76

  Mar 26, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  School Expulsion

  With most of their party · Failed 34–70 · Yes 34–No 70 · Democrats 30–0, Republicans 4–70

  Apr 29, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  House Rules revisions

  With most of their party · Failed 42–68 · Yes 42–No 67 · Democrats 28–0, Republicans 14–67

  Jan 29, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Hemp-derived ingestible

  With most of their party · Failed 46–61 · Yes 46–No 61 · Democrats 28–1, Republicans 18–60

  Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  University Campus Events Zoning

  With most of their party · Passed 69–39 · Yes 69–No 39 · Democrats 0–28, Republicans 69–11

  May 13, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  Education Scholarship Trust Fund

  With most of their party · Passed 79–38 · Yes 78–No 38 · Democrats 0–32, Republicans 78–6

  Feb 26, 2025Official record ↗