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Portrait of Larry GroomsPhoto: scstatehouse.gov

SC · Officeholder

Larry Grooms

RState Senator · District 37

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 living148 with · 1 against149 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.

      Mar 24, 2026 · Failed 15–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act

      Requires the legislature to approve, by joint resolution, state regulations estimated to cost $1 million or more over five years, directs courts to review agency interpretations of statutes and regulations without deference, and sets periodic Legislative Audit Council reviews of agency regulations.

      May 14, 2026 · Failed 22–22 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Tort Reform

      On the version voted Mar 26, 2025: Changes how fault is divided in injury lawsuits, letting juries assign fault to parties who settled and limiting joint liability; lowers bars' required liquor liability coverage to $500,000, requires alcohol server training, raises caps on suits against government, and doubles minimum auto insurance.

      Mar 18, 2025 · Passed 25–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety35 with · 0 against35 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Driving under the influence

      On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Makes DUI causing moderate injury a felony punishable by 90 days to 10 years in prison, creates reckless-driving offenses for causing injury, lengthens license suspensions for refusing alcohol tests, expands ignition interlock rules, and has circuit solicitors prosecute first and second DUI offenses.

      Feb 4, 2026 · Failed 19–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act

      Requires the legislature to approve, by joint resolution, state regulations estimated to cost $1 million or more over five years, directs courts to review agency interpretations of statutes and regulations without deference, and sets periodic Legislative Audit Council reviews of agency regulations.

      May 14, 2026 · Failed 22–22 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Redistricting, Congressional Districts

      On the version voted May 20, 2026: 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 22, 2026 · Failed 26–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Health & care22 with · 0 against22 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.

      Mar 24, 2026 · Failed 15–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Pharmacy access

      Feb 24, 2026 · Failed 6–38 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Ivermectin

      On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Allows adults 18 and older to buy FDA-approved human-use ivermectin over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription, kept behind the counter, with Board of Pharmacy screening and information rules and dispensing bans when contraindications exist.

      May 13, 2026 · Passed 38–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Education & families19 with · 1 against20 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Climate & energy13 with · 1 against14 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs (C-PACE)

      Lets counties and cities create voluntary C-PACE programs in which owners of commercial, industrial, agricultural and multifamily property finance energy and other improvements through a special assessment lien on the property, with existing mortgage holders' consent required.

      Jan 20, 2026 · Failed 17–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Santee Cooper Joint Project Authorization

      Authorizes the Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) to co-own, with Dominion Energy South Carolina, natural gas-fired generation and transmission facilities at or near the former Canadys coal plant in Colleton County, owning a share equal to its investment.

      Apr 3, 2025 · Passed 25–18 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Timber

      Mar 31, 2026 · Passed 38–5 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All climate & energy votes
  • Transportation13 with · 1 against14 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Driving under the influence

      On the version voted Jun 25, 2026: Makes DUI causing moderate injury a felony punishable by 90 days to 10 years in prison, creates reckless-driving offenses for causing injury, lengthens license suspensions for refusing alcohol tests, expands ignition interlock rules, and has circuit solicitors prosecute first and second DUI offenses.

      Feb 4, 2026 · Failed 19–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Watercraft Liability Insurance

      Requires owners of watercraft over 70 horsepower, personal watercraft and specialty propcraft to carry at least $50,000 in liability insurance, with owners certifying coverage at registration and penalties for violations.

      Feb 3, 2026 · Passed 24–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Utility terrain vehicle

      Lets utility terrain vehicles be registered and driven on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less by licensed drivers 17 and older, with a $10 fee every two years and insurance and safety rules; also allows golf carts near large athletic events.

      May 13, 2026 · Passed 26–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All transportation votes
  • Housing & rent4 with · 0 against4 votes

    Most contested

    All housing & rent votes
  • Technology & privacy4 with · 0 against4 votes

    Most contested

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Foreign affairs & defense1 with · 0 against1 vote

    Most contested

    • Yes

      SC-Bahamas Trade Commission

      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 12, 2026 · Passed 43–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

    All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 4 of 62 party-divided votes on file.

  • Utility terrain vehicle

    What it does: Lets utility terrain vehicles be registered and driven on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less by licensed drivers 17 and older, with a $10 fee every two years and insurance and safety rules; also allows golf car…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 6–4, Republicans 13–20

    May 13, 2026Official record ↗

  • Legislative compensation

    What it does: Sets legislators' annual pay at $15,000 plus a $32,500 in-district allowance, starting with the 128th General Assembly, adjusted every two years for inflation, capped at 5 percent.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 12–0, Republicans 12–18

    Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗

  • Income tax on overtime pay

    What it does: As amended in the Senate, updates the state's reference to the federal Internal Revenue Code to December 31, 2025 and lets taxpayers claim a refundable credit the next year, instead of amending a return, when later le…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–12, Republicans 16–15

    Mar 31, 2026Official record ↗

  • Santee Cooper Joint Project Authorization

    What it does: Authorizes the Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) to co-own, with Dominion Energy South Carolina, natural gas-fired generation and transmission facilities at or near the former Canadys coal plant in Colleton Cou…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 10–0, Republicans 15–18

    Apr 3, 2025Official 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

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

H 5126 · SC SENATE

Budget

Not votingNO VOTE

Motion: to adopt the conference report

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 provisions for operating state government that year.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 37–2·Substantive·Aug 11, 2026Roll call ↗
H 3924 · SC SENATE

Hemp-derived ingestible

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the conference report

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 27–11·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4709 · SC SENATE

US produced iron and steel

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the conference report

Passed 36–2·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4763 · SC SENATE

Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

YesVOTED

Motion: to grant free conference powers

Failed 29–9·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4248 · SC SENATE

Food labeling

YesVOTED

Motion: to adopt the conference report

Passed 33–5·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
S 0428 · SC SENATE

Fraudulent Check Expungement

YesVOTED

Motion: to override the veto

Passed 36–3·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
S 0052 · SC SENATE

Driving under the influence

YesVOTED

Motion: to grant free conference powers

Makes DUI causing moderate injury a felony punishable by 90 days to 10 years in prison, creates reckless-driving offenses for causing injury, lengthens license suspensions for refusing alcohol tests, expands ignition interlock rules, and has circuit solicitors prosecute first and second DUI offenses.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 23–13·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4763 · SC SENATE

Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act

YesVOTED

Motion: to grant free conference powers

Passed 33–6·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 4300 · SC SENATE

Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors

YesVOTED

Motion: 2nd Reading

Passed 36–3·Substantive·Jun 25, 2026Roll call ↗
H 5683 · SC SENATE

Redistricting, Congressional Districts

YesVOTED

Motion: Rule 15B

On the version voted May 20, 2026: 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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 20–24·Substantive·May 26, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 401 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.