Charleston, S.C. – State Senator Sean Bennett (R‑District 38) is spearheading a push for comprehensive lawsuit reform as a central component of South Carolina’s affordability agenda. In hearings held this week ahead of the January legislative session, Bennett emphasized that insurance premiums are a recurring expense for families and that reform could deliver “substantial savings” similar to recent results in neighboring Georgia and Florida.
Why lawsuit reform matters to families
“When we talk about affordability, we should start with the bills families cannot avoid,” Bennett said. “Insurance is a necessary, recurring household expense. Lowering that bill leaves more money for groceries, utilities, and everything else a family needs.” The senator, 58, highlighted that the “tort tax” – legal costs embedded in insurance rates – drains thousands of dollars from household budgets each year.
Examples from nearby states
Bennett cited recent data from Georgia, where leaders reported $500 million in realized or anticipated insurance savings during 2026, with rate reductions affecting more than 3.6 million policyholders across auto, home and business coverage. He also referenced Florida’s 2022‑2023 insurance and litigation reforms, noting that the state’s regulator reported an average auto‑insurance rate reduction of 12.6 percent for 2026 among the five largest insurers, which together hold 81 percent of the market.
Legislative hurdles
Last session, a coalition of Senate Republicans defeated a major lawsuit‑reform effort led by Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey. Despite a newly‑elected GOP supermajority, several Republican senators – including Tom Fernandez, Jason Elliott, Billy Garrett, Mike Gambrell, Stephen Goldfinch, Carlisle Kennedy, Josh Kimbrell, Matt Leber, Luke Rankin and Everett Stubbs – voted against the measure, effectively halting the reform push.
Sen. Massey reportedly told supporters earlier this year that they could no longer rely on his leadership to advance the proposal, further complicating the legislative landscape.
Sen. Bennett’s approach
Undeterred, Bennett is working with the Senate’s top finance leader to develop a comprehensive tax‑reform plan that incorporates lawsuit reform. He argues that aligning South Carolina’s insurance market with the reforms already proving effective in Georgia and Florida will generate meaningful savings for families month after month.
“Comprehensive lawsuit reform is the most consequential step I believe our legislature can take to bring down the cost of this necessary household expense,” Bennett said. “Georgia and Florida show what is possible when states confront the legal costs built into insurance premiums.”
Political context
The debate over lawsuit reform has become a flashpoint in the broader partisan discussion on affordability. Critics label the effort as a partisan attack, while proponents, including Bennett, frame it as a pragmatic solution to rising household costs. The issue is expected to shape the upcoming legislative session, with both sides positioning the reform as a test of the new GOP supermajority’s ability to deliver on promises of fiscal responsibility.
FITSNews, which has consistently advocated for multi‑faceted judicial reform, will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as the Senate moves forward.
Original reporting: FITSNews — read the source article.
