Michael Leach Retirement

2025-2026 Bill 761: Michael Leach Retirement - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 761
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Cromer
Document Path: SR-0457KM-AMB26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026
Adopted by the Senate on January 13, 2026
Summary: Michael Leach Retirement
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/13/2026

Senate

Introduced and adopted (
Senate Journal-page 45
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/13/2026

A
senate
RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Michael Leach UPON THE OCCASION OF
HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS Five YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO
WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Michael Leach upon the
occasion of his retirement from the South Carolina Department of Social
Services on January 2, 2025; and

W
hereas, Mr. Leach was
nominated by Governor Henry McMaster in March 2019 and oversaw the Department
of Social Services during some of the State's most challenging times in recent
history, including the COVID-19 pandemic and many natural disasters; and

W
hereas, Mr. Leach made
significant progress for the vulnerable children and families of South
Carolina. He led major legislative reforms, including a bill to provide
additional support for kinship caregivers in 2022 and additional legislation to
establish the State's kinship guardianship program in 2023. Under Mr. Leach's
administration, the State saw a significant reduction in the number of youths
in foster care, increased kinship placements, and reduction in the use of
congregate care; and

W
hereas, Mr. Leach also
made significant operational improvements during his tenure, including
decreasing staff turnover to under ten percent, one of the lowest rates in the
nation for a child welfare system, and modernizing technology to make the
agency more efficient and transparent; and

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina Senate appreciate the passion and dedication that Mr. Leach
has shown in serving the people and the State of South Carolina. Now,
therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
Senate
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
Senate
, by this resolution,
congratulate Michael Leach upon the occasion of his retirement, commend him for
his five years of dedicated service, and wish him much happiness and
fulfillment in the years ahead.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Michael Leach.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM