Senator Michael Johnson on 2026: Data Centers, Silfab, DUI Reform, and What’s Next

Senator Michael Johnson has represented South Carolina’s District 16, covering Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Indian Land, for six years. He sat down with Talk of the Town Carolinas host Patty Mercer to take stock of a difficult 2026 legislative session and share what he hopes to accomplish when the General Assembly reconvenes in 2027.

A Frustrating Year in Columbia

Senator Johnson didn’t sugarcoat his assessment of 2026. Of his six years in the Senate, this one stood out as the most difficult, not for lack of effort, but for lack of results.

“This was the frustrating year. We just didn’t accomplish big things. And the big things we did accomplish, we couldn’t convince the other chamber to join us. You walk away and think, ‘Man, I just spent six months of my life and I’m not sure what we actually did.'”

— Senator Michael Johnson, SC District 16

That friction between the Senate and House of Representatives played out across nearly every major issue the senator touched on, from redistricting to DUI reform to THC regulation. The good news, he says, is that 2027 looks different.

Redistricting: A Last-Minute Scramble

One of the year’s more unexpected flashpoints was redistricting, redrawing the state’s congressional and legislative maps. A U.S. Supreme Court decision out of Louisiana changed the landscape late in the session, ruling that race could not be used as a basis for drawing district lines. States across the country started scrambling.

Johnson explained that South Carolina’s seven congressional districts were already in compliance. The state doesn’t have any majority-minority districts at that level, but a handful of state Senate and House districts may be in violation and will likely need to be redrawn ahead of 2028.

The bigger problem was timing. The bill arrived on a Wednesday. Senate procedural rules meant it couldn’t come to a vote until the following Thursday. But by Tuesday, people were already casting ballots.

“We talked so much about the importance of voting, and that every vote counts. Well, every vote counted, and once it was cast, we couldn’t throw it out. That shaped my decision making through the whole process.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

Data Centers: The 1875 Railroad Debate

Few topics generated as much heat in our region in 2026 as data centers, the massive server facilities that power everything from social media to artificial intelligence. Senator Johnson served as subcommittee chairman on a data center bill, so he came to the interview with a deep, and at times reluctant, knowledge of the subject.

On water: modern data centers using closed-loop cooling systems put roughly a million gallons into the system at startup, then replenish only about 100,000 to 250,000 gallons a year. For comparison, he noted that the Tega Cay, Fort Mill, and Springfield golf courses together use around five to six million gallons per week.

“Our golf courses are using more water, and nobody ever talks about that, and we’re not looking to get rid of our golf courses.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

On power, he pointed to “bring your own power” arrangements, where data centers build their own generation capacity, whether solar, out-of-state sourcing, or dedicated plants, rather than drawing off the existing grid. His bottom line: the resources are there. The question is whether we do it right.

He drew a pointed historical parallel for those who want to block them entirely.

“I believe this is like 1875, and we’re a small town out west that said, ‘No, we don’t want the railroad.’ You’re going to want this in 10 to 15 years. We are not going to stop or slow down AI just because we stop a data center.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

His conditions for getting it right: proper zoning, away from residential areas, no humming towers next to homes, no passing infrastructure costs on to residential ratepayers, and no more tax incentives. “The reality is, they’re coming. They don’t want our tax money. We don’t need to waive it.” He’s hoping the legislature takes up a comprehensive bill early in 2027.

Silfab: A Zoning Problem That Won’t Disappear

The Silfab solar panel manufacturing facility in Fort Mill has generated lawsuits, protests, and community anxiety, particularly because of its proximity to a local school. Johnson was candid about where he stands.

“If you ask me what’s not light industrial, it’s not even close to being light industrial. It is heavy industrial. It is sitting in the wrong place. But it’s here.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

He noted that EMS has been called to the site more than 20 times in the past year, and the nearby school has been evacuated twice. Zoning decisions, he reminded us, rest with York County, not the state legislature. His ability to act is limited.

His preferred outcome: if Silfab is willing to be a genuine neighbor, the state could potentially help facilitate a relocation to a properly zoned heavy industrial site. He says he’d work to bring state resources to the table if that conversation were possible. If the courts don’t resolve it, he wants the state’s Department of Environmental Services actively ensuring the facility operates safely and transparently.

The Budget: Late, but Passed

South Carolina has passed its budget on time by July 1 in nearly every year of the state’s history. 2026 was one of only three or four exceptions, and the last time it happened was roughly 60 years ago. The budget finally cleared in August, with state agencies remaining open throughout.

Johnson’s broader concern is structural. He believes the state’s spending is growing faster than the economy that supports it. He pointed out that over the past four or five years, cuts have totaled around $2.4 to $2.5 billion, largely through income tax reductions, and he’d like to find another billion in savings.

He also voted against the year’s earmark bill, which directed roughly $350 million to individual projects chosen by legislators. His objection isn’t to local investment. His issue is with the process of distributing funds based on political relationships rather than demonstrated need.

“If we know something is a problem and we think it’s a priority, then let’s take our tax dollars and fix it. What we shouldn’t be doing is an earmark process where you’ve somehow been able to get more money than the guy beside you.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

He used the Fort Mill area’s own water infrastructure as an example, visible in the regular news reports of water line breaks, arguing that a systematic statewide fund to fix aging water systems would serve residents far better than piecemeal allocations.

DUI Reform and THC: The Fight He’s Bringing Back in 2027

South Carolina ranks second or third in the country for DUI-related deaths, and Senator Johnson believes our current laws are a big reason why. As he explained, a quirk in how evidence is evaluated means that a DUI suspect caught on camera falling down nine times could see all of that evidence thrown out if even one moment went off camera.

“If you’re pulled over for a DUI, you were never going to get convicted. Absolutely no way. And you can have a DUI fifth and plead guilty to a DUI first. We need to stop that.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

The Senate passed a reform bill. The House watered it down in conference committee and it died. Johnson intends to make it one of the first bills of the 2027 session.

Closely tied to that effort is THC regulation. He says 40% of DUI deaths in South Carolina involve THC, and right now, there are virtually no restrictions on who can buy THC-infused drinks at convenience stores. He described seeing a 45-milligram-per-ounce product on a shelf (a 16-ounce can) with no age requirement on the purchase.

The Senate passed a regulation bill. The House split into three camps: ban it, regulate it, or leave it alone. They couldn’t agree. Johnson’s position is regulation: require buyers to be 21, set milligram limits, restrict where it’s sold, and make clear that THC does not metabolize like alcohol and carries its own distinct risks, especially when combined with drinking.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Despite everything, Senator Johnson left the conversation with genuine optimism. He believes the frustration of 2026 created a shared urgency that 2027 could actually channel into results, on DUI reform, on THC regulation, and on data center policy. The groundwork is laid. Now it’s about getting both chambers to the finish line together.

“I think there were a lot of people who walked out frustrated. And this could be a big year coming up.”

— Senator Michael Johnson

We’ll be watching, and we’ll keep bringing you the conversations that help us understand what’s happening in our community and why it matters to all of us here in the Carolinas.

Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel or visit CarolinaHomeSearch.com for past episodes of Talk of the Town Carolinas.

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