S.C. House Majority Leader Hit with Ethics Complaint over Ivermectin Bill

An ethics complaint filed against State House Majority Leader Davey Hiott (R-Pickens) over his legislative role over. H.4042, a bill that would have made Ivermectin available for purchase over-the-counter.

After the bill had already overwhelmingly passed the state house of representatives and senate, Hiott motioned to have it committed to the Agriculture committee on June 25, 2026. That motion passed, effectively killing the legislation.

Central to the complaint is that Hiott should have recused himself from discussion, motions and voting on the legislation due to his son's role as a lobbyist in the pharmaceutical industry. Lander Hiott is a lobbyist for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the primary trade organization represententing major pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The implication is that this trade organization benefits from Ivermectin not being readily available. The Hiott conflict of interest was not disclosed.

S.C. Code Ann. § 8.13.700 addresses the "use of official position to obtain economic interest for a family member or business with which associated."

The complaint, filed by health freedom leader Dr. Andrea Lamont Nazarenko of Lexington, seeks to determine whether Hiott violated the Ethics Reform Act and act accordingly. Please see the complaint for the full context.

As this outlet reported in June, the elder Hiott is said to have buried the bill as a parting shot to the bill’s author, Jay Kilmartin (R-Lexington) and his Freedom Caucus colleagues. Hiott did not seek re-election this year.