Sen. Tim Scott gathers Charleston leaders for housing roundtable

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Inside the council chambers at North Charleston City Hall, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) brought together mayors, state legislators, county leaders, builders and business leaders from across the Lowcountry on Friday to put his 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to work in South Carolina. “Your efforts will allow the ROAD to Housing Act to hit the ground running throughout South Carolina,” said Sen. Scott. “One of the biggest motivating factors for my work on housing is remembering how I grew up in a single-parent household, mired in poverty, sharing a bedroom and a bed with my mom and my brother in a rental unit with dirt for the front yard and no backyard. The better we make people’s lives today, the brighter our future is together here at home in the great state of South Carolina.” Fred Moore, housing advisor to Sen. Scott, walked participants through how the law clears the way for new construction and gives local leaders more flexibility to build. Bradford Traywick, regional director for Sen. Scott, led the conversation, which turned quickly to the Lowcountry’s biggest pressure points: workforce housing near new jobs, permitting timelines and zoning that keeps starter homes off the market. “I want to thank Senator Scott and his staff for doing this. The information that was shared is so important, especially for folks from local government who are on the ground and actually doing the work. We have a major housing need: affordable housing, workforce housing, even market-rate housing and student housing in Orangeburg,” said Sidney Evering II, city administrator for the City of Orangeburg. “Thanks to the Senator and the Banking Committee, what we have now is something that can really make a difference, to make that process more efficient, actually more business-like. My peers all across the country are talking about this act and trying to understand it. To be able to go to a forum here, in our community, and have someone from the staff come and explain it to us, that’s incredibly valuable,” said Kevin Sheilley, president and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. “Housing is the crux of the entire conversation for economic development, for growth, for job opportunities. It’s a conversation we have all day long in our office when it comes to our employees being able to afford to live where they work. The growth here is not stopping, so we need to lean in,” said Marie Delcioppo, executive director of marketing and business development at Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects. “From what I understand, the ROAD to Housing Act is one of the most significant pieces of legislation in decades, and I’m excited to see what it can do for families across South Carolina. Dorchester County is growing fast, and I think this legislation will help us make sure we have the workforce for all of the great companies in the tri-county region,” said Gordon Rooney of Dorchester County Economic Development. The North Charleston roundtable closed a three-city series that included stops in Duncan on October 28 and Columbia on October 29. Watch the full event recap video here . Background In July 2025, Sen. Scott led the Senate Banking Committee in unanimously advancing the ROAD to Housing Act. In March 2026, the full Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 89-10. On July 11, 2026, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law. The law cuts red tape, unlocks housing supply and lowers costs for families, with no new federal spending. ###