COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Political debacles of 2012 will take center stage in the South Carolina legislative session that starts next week, as lawmakers promise to reform ethics and election laws and better secure taxpayers' information.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin says his committee will immediately take up legislation that eliminates the potential for another election mess. About 250 candidates statewide were removed from primary ballots over what many considered a paperwork technicality.

Martin says that's up first Jan. 8.

Ethics reform will likely move much slower.

House and Senate panels, as well as a group created by Gov. Nikki Haley, have been meeting in the off-session to craft recommendations.

Lawmakers will debate how much to spend on computer security, after a hacker stole tax filings containing information from millions of people and businesses