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Portrait of Margie Bright MatthewsPhoto: scstatehouse.gov

SC · Officeholder

Margie Bright Matthews

DState Senator · District 45

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 Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

  • Jobs & cost of living148 with · 106 against254 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Budget

      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 provisions for operating state government that year.

      Apr 21, 2026 · Passed 21–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • 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 18, 2026 · Passed 22–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety23 with · 4 against28 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Convention of the States

      Applies to Congress under Article V for a convention limited to proposing a term limits amendment for members of the U.S. House and Senate, with conditions barring any changes to the Bill of Rights or the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.

      May 7, 2025 · Passed 29–14 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Health & care17 with · 5 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 18, 2026 · Passed 22–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Pharmacy access

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

    • No

      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 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Education & families11 with · 2 against13 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Transportation12 with · 1 against13 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All transportation votes
  • Climate & energy9 with · 0 against9 votes

    Most contested

    All climate & energy votes
  • Technology & privacy2 with · 1 against3 votes

    Most contested

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Housing & rent2 with · 0 against2 votes

    Most contested

    All housing & rent 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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 2 of 70 party-divided votes on file.

  • University Campus Events Zoning

    What it does: On the version voted May 13, 2026: 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 an…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–6, Republicans 30–1

    May 14, 2026Official record ↗

  • 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 Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–8, Republicans 17–15

    Apr 23, 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

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

YesVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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 399 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.