2024 Week 11 Update

As we move through another productive week at the State House, I'm eager to share some significant legislative updates that reflect our ongoing efforts to enhance the well-being and prosperity of South Carolinians. From expanding educational choices for families to addressing critical energy needs and setting the stage for important debates on educational policy, our focus remains on ensuring a bright and sustainable future for our state.

2024 Week 10 Update

This past week at the State House marked a landmark moment as I, alongside my colleagues, voted to pass the 2024-2025 State Budget (H.5100). With over $1.4 billion set aside for direct tax relief, critical investments in our aging infrastructure, and focused efforts on teacher recruitment and retention, this budget is a testament to our strategic approach to nurturing economic growth, supporting our educational system, and reinforcing our dedication to veterans and public safety.

2024 Week 9 Update

2024 Week 9 – Strengthening Rights, Education, and Fiscal Responsibility

This week at the State House, my focus remained steadfast on legislative initiatives crucial to protecting our freedoms, enhancing educational opportunities, and honoring the distinguished service of our veterans. This week worked to reinforce Second Amendment rights, advocated for educational choice, and recognized our veterans' dedication and sacrifice.

2024 Week 8 Update

2024 Week 8 – Visionary Reforms and Empowering Parents

After our week of furlough for House members, a time we used to strategically plan for what lies ahead, I returned to Columbia this week energized and ready to continue making progress on several key bills and initiatives. This week was full of significant legislative advancements, each reflecting our deep commitment to the prosperity and well-being of every South Carolinian. We tackled groundbreaking healthcare reforms and introduced innovative solutions to support our local businesses. My dedication to improving the lives of all our citizens drives every action I take. I'm eager to share this week’s accomplishments with you, highlighting our joint efforts towards building a brighter future for our state.

2024 Week 6 Update

As we approach a brief pause in our legislative session, with the House on furlough until Tuesday, February 27th, I want to share some significant accomplishments from the past week and look ahead to our priorities upon reconvening.

An interesting fact to note: each furlough week for House members results in savings of over $66,000 for taxpayers. This furlough period will give the Ways and Means Committee the necessary time to diligently work through the House version of the State budget in full committee, ensuring our fiscal decisions are both thoughtful and strategic.

2024 Week 5 Update

2024 Week 5 – Boosting Jobs, Justice, and Athlete Rights

This week has underscored my commitment to fostering economic growth, ensuring justice, and enhancing education. I've been at the forefront of advocating for reforms that boost the vitality of our small businesses, tackling the pressing issue of judicial vacancies, and standing up for the rights of our student athletes. Each step taken has been a move towards positive change.

2024 Week 4 Update

2024 Week 4 – Strengthening Safety, Protecting Rights, and Increasing Access to Healthcare

This week in the State House we reached a significant phase in our legislative session. We were able to see our efforts in the committee process come to fruition with the passage of several key pieces of legislation. The passage of these bills is a testament to our collective commitment to safeguarding and improving the community we all value. 

2024 Week 3 Update

As we continue our work in the State House this week, my focus has been firmly on a matter of utmost importance to all of us: the safety and well-being of our children in the digital age. I'm eager to share with you some key legislative developments that have taken place, which I believe are crucial steps towards safeguarding our children online.

2024 Week 2 Update

As your State Representative, I am proud to share with you the significant strides we made this week in the House. Our accomplishments reflect a unified theme: safeguarding the future of our state and its citizens through prudent, conservative stewardship. From protecting our economic interests to ensuring the safety and well-being of our children, each action we have taken is a testament to my commitment to uphold South Carolina's conservative values.

2024 Week 1 Update

Dear friends and neighbors,

Week 11 Legislative Update '23

In January the House Republican Caucus outlined our agenda for the 2023-2024 Legislative session, which focused on five main pillars: bolstering statewide economic development, reforming education, limiting government through fiscal discipline, increasing personal freedom and conservative values, and prioritizing public safety and making law and order a top priority. Our agenda was aimed at creating a strong and prosperous state with a focus on preparing students for the workforce, reducing government intervention, promoting conservative values, and creating a safe and stable community.
 
I am proud to report that we have made great strides in each of these areas, passing strong legislation and strengthening the foundation for South Carolina’s success. I’ve outlined some key legislation and progress made on each of our pillars below, and I look forward to returning next week to get back to work for the people of our great state.

Week 10 Legislative Update '23

This week I voted to pass the 2023 State Budget. This budget received bipartisan support and I’m proud of the work we all came together to do in order to pass a budget that is fiscally conservative while funding the core functions of government. 
 
In this budget, we focused on reducing taxes and increasing our reserves, investing in our roads and bridges, recruiting and retaining our teachers and law enforcement professionals, and workforce preparedness through education and training initiatives. As a result we are positioning our great state for continued economic growth and ensuring South Carolinians have opportunities to prosper.

Week 9 Legislative Update '23

As Week 9 comes to a close I am pleased with the progress we’ve made in an effort to better prepare our current workforce and future generations. A vibrant workforce is critical to sustaining and growing our state’s economy, and it is imperative that we ensure the tools and resources needed to succeed are ready and available to all South Carolinians. Next week, we will move on to the budget. Although our time on the floor will be long, and likely extend into the evening, I look forward to passing a budget that helps move South Carolina forward and remain a great state to live, work, and raise a family. 

Week 8 Legislative Update '23

A common thread during Week 8 of this legislative session was protecting and supporting the next generation. On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in giving voters the opportunity to decide whether the State can provide direct aid to certain private educational institutions. This will be on the ballot in 2024. We also made strides in keeping criminals off the street by passing historic bond reform legislation that will stop the revolving door for repeat offenders. I am committed to making South Carolina the best place to raise your family!

Week 7 Legislative Update '23

Overview of the Week:

The Second Amendment, ratified on December 15th, 1791, remains one of the most fundamental safeguards to our liberty and freedom. On Wednesday, I proudly joined my Republican colleagues and voted to strengthen those inalienable constitutional rights by removing the need for a government permission slip to exercise them. The landslide 90-30 vote brings us one step closer to joining 25 other states with some form of "Constitutional Carry" laws.

Week 6 Legislative Update '23

Overview of the Week:

Preserving our rights and protecting South Carolinians was the common theme among the major legislation of Week 6 of this legislative session. On Tuesday a Constitutional Carry bill that further strengthens our Second Amendment rights passed in Committee and will head to the House floor next week. And on Wednesday, the Human Life Protection Act passed the full House and was sent over to the Senate for their consideration. 

Week 5 Legislative Update '23

At the beginning of this year, I stood alongside my colleagues in the House Republican Caucus and laid out our agenda for this year’s session. We outlined 5 pillars for a “Foundation for South Carolina’s Success” which included economic prosperity, education reform, limited government, personal freedom, and law and order. As we end week 5 of session I am proud to announce that we are making tremendous progress as we work through our agenda! Just this week we passed a bill that bans Critical Race Theory in our classrooms, and the Human Life Protection Act made its way out of the Judiciary Committee.

Week 4 Legislative Update '23

Although Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Thursday and predicted six more weeks of winter, things are looking bright at the State House! This week the House Education and Public Works Committee passed a bill to ban CRT.  The bill will head to the House floor next week for debate. House Republicans also sent a strong message to drug dealers looking to traffic fentanyl in our state by passing a bill to increase penalties on those who want to bring this dangerous drug into our State!

Week 3 Legislative Update '23

While most of the country has had their eyes on the Murdaugh case in Walterboro, the SC House was hard at work on several important bills in week three of the 2023-2024 legislative session. On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues from the House and Senate for Governor McMaster’s State of the State Address. The Governor laid out his vision for South Carolina and I look forward to working with him to ensure South Carolina’s future is bright! 

2022 End of Session Update

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC 2022

End of Session Update

The 2021-2022 Legislative Session came to a close on Thursday, May 12. This close yielded RESULTS for our Republican Caucus Agenda, which aims to slash government red-tape, cut taxes, and make a more efficient government that works for the people -- one that makes South Carolina a better place to work, go to school, own a business and raise a family. 

This newsletter highlights some of the important legislation passed, and what will be headed to a conference committee to work out differences between the House and the Senate.

2022 Statehouse Report #16

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC 2022 - Week 16

When the clock struck 5pm this past Thursday, Sine Die went into effect, marking the end of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. 

“Although many laws might sound like gibberish to non-lawyers (and even to many lawyers, for that matter), ‘sine die’ is not. It’s Latin for ‘without a day’... to describe an adjournment when the date to reconvene is not specified…” (Congressional Institute).

With a combined 27+ hours on the Floor in just three days this week, there was no shortage of work to do. Until the last minute, my colleagues and I fought to push many of our conservative agenda items over the finish line. Our successes this year will make South Carolina a better place to live, work, and raise a family for years to come.

2022 Statehouse Report #15

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC 2022 - Week 15

Another week in Columbia has come to an end and we only have 3 legislative days left until Sine Die, or the end of the 2021-2022 regular Legislative Session. Next week will be marked by long days on the Floor and a plethora of bills trying to make their way through the legislative process before the end of session.

In the coming weeks and into the summer, we have the finalization of the budget process to look forward to. Weeks ago, we passed our House version of the budget which focused on the 4 R’s: Reserves, Raises, Relief, and Roads. The Senate has come up with its own version of the budget which is drastically different from ours. These differences will be reconciled over the summer to ensure that we have an appropriate budget that properly serves the people of South Carolina by our deadline of July 1.

Medical Marijuana & Constitutionality 

If you haven’t seen the news headlines, this week was marked by the Compassionate Care Act legislation, otherwise known as the medical marijuana bill, on the House Floor. A point of order was raised by Representative McCravy based on House Rule and the State Constitution. Our  Constitution requires any measure that raises or creates a tax to originate in the chamber closest to the people - the House. Since this was a Senate bill and contained a tax, the Presiding Officer was obligated to rule it out of order as he did. 

2022 Statehouse Report #14

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC 2022 - Week 14

This week in the General Assembly was highlighted by the retirement of Speaker Jay Lucas and the election of our new Speaker, Murrell Smith.

Congratulations to my friend and the Speaker-Elect of the House, Murrell Smith.  And thank you and Godspeed to House Speaker Jay Lucas!

Speaker Lucas, who has served in the House for 24 years, and as our leader for the last 8 years, announced his retirement this year.  He will be sorely missed.  His leadership, kindness, and most of all, his friendship will never be forgotten. His reputation as a consensus builder and true statesman will forever be part of South Carolina’s history. 

Speaker-Elect Smith, who previously served as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and is also a friend.  Speaker-Elect Smith is a natural-born leader.  He will serve our body with a respectful consensus-building manner and will serve South Carolina in a way we will all be proud of.

As we enter the final six legislative days in the 124th South Carolina General Assembly, my House colleagues and I continue our work on several important bills…

2022 Statehouse Report #13

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC 2022 - Critical Race Theory Outlawed In SC House

This week, the House was back in session after some time off for Easter. As we near the end of the 2021-2022 legislative session, we have been very busy in Columbia. In the coming weeks, we should expect long days on the Floor of passing important legislation and finalizing our state budget as it comes back from the Senate. As a reminder, we have just 3 weeks remaining until the ‘Sine Die’, which is the date that the House adjourns for the remainder of the year.

On Wednesday, we spent over 8 hours on the Floor debating the Critical Race Theory bill. Additionally, we worked hard in committees, reviewing and amending legislation sent over from the Senate. I am pleased to see the Senate working through several important bills sent to them from the House.

2022 Statehouse Report #12

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC 2022 - Crossover Week

HUGE WIN! Save Women's Sports Act PASSES the SC House

I firmly believe that women should be able to participate in sports with a competitive edge and feel comfortable and safe. Despite nearly 1,000 amendments from the Democrats meant to derail the legislation, the House Republicans fought tooth and nail to outlaw the participation of biological men (who identify as women) in women’s sports throughout K-12 education and college. Now, the bill goes to the Senate, where I hope they will support this measure.

2022 Statehouse Report #11

Overview

Last week the House was not in session in Columbia, giving me time back home in the District to meet with local groups and constituents. We returned to Columbia this week, and began aggressively dealing with a number of bills before the April 10 “crossover” deadline, the deadline we have to send bills to the State Senate. 

This week, my colleagues and I worked on some ‘big-ticket item’ bills in committee, including a bill that excludes biological men, who are now transgender women, from participating in K-12 women’s sports and a bill that excludes ‘Critical Race Theory’ from being taught in K-12 schools in South Carolina. It’s likely that both of these bills will be debated on the Floor next week. In addition, we worked on:

2022 Budget Week

I am proud to report that I voted in favor of the House of Representatives’ State Budget on Monday, which passed by a vote of 108-7. Not only am I proud of the hard work and effort that went into creating this budget, but I am proud to report that the budget passed second reading in record timing of just one day. The ability of this budget to move through the House with few amendments is evidence of solid and sound fiscal policy that adequately funds the needs of our state while making South Carolina a better place to live, work, or own a business. 

2022 Statehouse Report # 9

Overview:

We are 9 weeks into the legislative session. The focus has been on enhancing several bills prior to them moving to the Floor of the House for debate. March 14 begins one of the busiest and most important weeks in the South Carolina House: The State Budget. The full House Ways and Means Committee held a budget briefing where the budget was explained and broken down in further detail. You can see the budget briefing online here. The theme of this year’s budget is 4 R’s: improving our roads, increasing our reserves, tax relief, and raises for teachers, state law enforcement, and state employees. I will work long and hard to ensure that the House budget allocates appropriate dollars to fund core state functions and improvements while ensuring South Carolinians have more money back in their pockets.

2022 Statehouse Report # 8

Week 8 - 1 Person, 1 Vote: Election Integrity in SC

Free, fair, and secure elections strengthen public confidence in electoral institutions and give efficacy and legitimacy to our democracy. Our democratic system is what makes America great, setting us apart from countries around the world. We recently learned about nonuniformity in elections around our state. 

The South Carolina House is dedicated to combating all accounts of voter fraud and inconsistencies, which was our focus this week. I am proud to report that I voted in favor of a bill that drastically improves and fortifies the integrity of our election system here in South Carolina. There are several different safeguards and protections of this bill, but notably, this bill improves identity verification and addresses early voting and absentee voting. 

2022 Statehouse Report # 7

For the past few weeks, my colleagues and I have dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to lay the foundation for this year’s state budget. We have focused on finding the best ways to use our state’s surplus funds, the federal ARPA funding, and dollars we’ve received for infrastructure projects. Throughout this process, my goal has remained the same–to provide the best benefit for taxpayers while prioritizing resourcefulness and funding the core functions of state government. With significant surplus funds (thanks to years of conservative budgeting and spending), the core of this year's budget and fiscal policy as a whole relies on 4 basic pillars: Relief, Roads, Reserves and Raises. 

2022 Statehouse Report # 6

The Palmetto State already enjoys lower taxes than neighboring states. Now, House Republicans and Governor McMaster have a plan to make them even lower. I am proud to have joined my House Republican colleagues, along with Governor McMaster, to roll out a plan to cut taxes in South Carolina by $1 billion. South Carolina’s economy is booming, with ARPA funds, infrastructure money, and years of conservative planning, we have a HISTORIC amount of surplus funds. Rather than spend this money as our Democrat colleagues might suggest, we’re returning it to the taxpayers. 

2022 Statehouse Report # 5

Week 5 - Advancing Our Conservative Agenda

Overview

Week 5 was a very busy and successful week in the South Carolina House. We worked on the Floor, and spent time in committees and subcommittees on matters regarding election uniformity throughout the state, school choice, and reserve funds. 

As we work our way through February, we are approaching one of the busiest weeks of the year: budget week. The budget will be on the Floor for debate the week of March 14th. In addition to the budget subcommittees meeting, we were joined by Governor McMaster and Secretary Hall from SCDOT for our weekly caucus meeting. The Governor spoke on some of his executive budget priorities (many of which are already in the works), including expansion of roads, bridges, interstates and sewer. Secretary Hall then spoke to us about the Department’s achievements in the past 10 years, as well as their requests for this year’s budgets, much of which prioritized the same infrastructure improvements and expansions as the Governor. 

2022 Statehouse Report # 4

New Judges on the Bench

Members of the Senate joined us in the House chamber to vote on Judicial nominees. The South Carolina Constitution requires judges to be elected by members of the General Assembly in a Joint Assembly. Prior to being judicial candidates, individuals seeking judicial office are screened by a committee to ensure they are upstanding citizens and possess the competency and qualifications necessary to serve on the bench. Congratulations to all of those elected, and thank you for your willingness to serve!

2022 Statehouse Report # 3

Overview

This week, Senator Lindsey Graham (a former member of the House Republican Caucus) was the special guest speaker at our weekly Caucus meeting.  I am thankful for his support, and his continued communication as to the happenings in Washington DC and the effects on South Carolina. 

In addition to Senator Graham giving us important updates about Washington and the Biden Administration, I was delighted to attend a news conference later in the day with him as he leads the effort for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Also, as we conclude the third week of session, House committees have been hard at work. We continue to hear budget requests from various state agencies in preparation for the state budget discussion we will have on the Floor in just a few weeks. We also began the legislative process on some critical legislation, which I expect to debate on the Floor in coming weeks. 

2022 Statehouse Report # 2

Overview

Parts of the state had a very frigid start to the week, with several inches of snow covering areas of the Upstate. I want to extend a huge thank you to our first responders and other front-line workers who braved the weather to keep our communities safe and our power on. 

With the weather creating unsafe travel conditions for some of my colleagues, the Speaker canceled session on Tuesday. We returned to Columbia on Wednesday and began our work for the week. Various state agencies testified before budget subcommittees to make requests as deliberations begin over the state budget.  The budget will make its way to the House floor in March. Committee meetings are live-streamed on the Statehouse website. You can see the schedule of committee meetings and tune in here:  https://www.scstatehouse.gov/meetings.php?chamber=H

2022 Statehouse Report # 1

House Republican Caucus

SCHRC Agenda

 2022

South Carolina is open for business and I am ready to work for you in 2022. If COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that being prepared and resourceful is of utmost importance. This year, I am not only dedicated to achieving the goals below, but I will continue to value conservative planning and preparedness. 

2021 Statehouse Report # 20

Dear friends and neighbors: 

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your State Representative in Columbia. With the first year of our two-year session complete, I wanted to share an update on the accomplishments and progress we made. This year was challenging and out of the ordinary in many ways. We worked to navigate uncharted waters as the pandemic challenged our state’s public health system, schools, economy and small businesses in ways we could not have fathomed. Despite these challenges, we held strong to our state’s motto: “Dum spiro spero”, meaning "While I breathe, I hope”

2021 Statehouse Report # 19

The House convened for one of the final times this summer on Monday. We met to review and vote on a conference report from the joint Senate-House Budget Conference Committee, which met to iron out differences between the two chambers versions of the state budget for the next fiscal year. With all the hard work of staff, members of the committee, my colleagues, and with the leadership of the Speaker, we were able to pass the most conservative budget in South Carolina history! This budget funds only the essential functions of the State while protecting taxpayers and preparing for weather or health-related disasters.

2021 Statehouse Report # 18

Overview

Meaningful and conservative legislation meant to protect our constitutional rights, cut government spending and regulations, preserve life, and better our education system was the basis of this year’s session. This was the last week of the 2021 session of the 124th General Assembly. We spent a lot of time on the Floor, trying to get as much done as possible before Sine Die - the end of session. 

I am proud of our accomplishments this year, from expanding gun laws, to protecting the unborn, securing the integrity of our elections, and much more. We will return to work in June, although the Sine Die resolution restricts our debate to the budget, to review and vote on conference reports, and begin the once-a-decade redistricting process. Let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance to you. 

2021 Statehouse Report # 17

THANK YOU TEACHERS

They say to teach is to touch a life forever. This week is ‘Teacher Appreciation Week’. Thank you to South Carolina’s invaluable educators. Not only do they teach, but many serve as great role models for our children. Thank you for all that you do!

2021 Statehouse Report #16

Did you know? The Palmetto State is ranked 4th in the United States for the number of women-owned businesses, with 170,000 calling South Carolina their home!

This week, the South Carolina Senate had ‘Budget Week’, reviewing, debating, and amending the budget the House sent them a few weeks ago. When the Senate returns their version of the budget back to us, we will meet to review their amendments. We are hopeful that the Senate will send us a fiscally conservative budget that reflects the needs of our post-pandemic State economy. 

Though this year’s legislative session officially ends on May 13th, the Speaker of the House introduced a Sine Die resolution that schedules us back in the capitol in June to finalize the State budget, review conference committee reports, and assess any vetoes to the budget by the Governor. We will also be back in late Summer/early Fall in an effort to complete our once-a-decade task of reapportionment. I will continue to update you throughout the summer, but this is a quick synopsis of the current plan.  

2021 Statehouse Report # 15

This week was another busy week in the House, with several key issues moving quickly in committee. The overall theme of the week was getting our state back to normal on the heels of the pandemic. In the coming weeks, we will be spending less time in committee and more time on the Floor, trying to pass all necessary legislation before sine die (meaning the day of adjournment) on May 13. Bills dealing with supporting law enforcement, a Convention of States amendment, and a bill to assist our judicial system regarding the death penalty will all be on the table these final few weeks of session. 

2021 Statehouse Report # 14

After the fast and furious week of meeting the crossover deadline, this week, the House returned to work... much of the work being done in committees and subcommittees. Here are a few highlights from legislation we dealt with.. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about what we are doing in Columbia, please feel free to contact me!

2021 Statehouse Report # 13

Did you know? On Wednesday, Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed April 2021 as the Month of the Military Child. 

_______

The days are getting longer and warmer, and Spring is in full swing. We are 13 weeks into the 2021-2022 Session but we are not slowing down. This week was ‘crossover week’, meaning we spent the week pushing to get as many important bills passed out of the House as possible. This deadline is important as it makes the bills passed by our chamber more likely to be considered by the Senate this session. Some of the issues we honed in on this week were advancing our gun rights, establishing tax conformity, enhancing penalties for heinous crimes, and improving education.

2021 Statehouse Report # 12

Hello friends and neighbors, 

This week was a furlough week for the South Carolina House, meaning we were not in Columbia. This week is an opportunity to regroup, recharge, and refocus, as we enter into the second half of the session. Did you know that fu

2021 Statehouse Report # 11

2021-2022 State Budget Overview 

This week, we took up the 2021-2022 state budget. I am happy to report that this may be the most conservative budget yet. In short, this budget funds only necessary government services while recognizing that we are still in uncertain pandemic conditions. Although we expect state revenue to go up (as COVID-19 cases continue to fall), we cannot bank on that quite yet… and as such, we must be prepared by being conservative with our state’s resources. 

After hours of debate and hundreds of votes, we passed a budget that prioritizes a renewed dedication to improving education, funding resources for law enforcement, expanding broadband internet access, and honoring our continued promise to never fund Planned Parenthood. I am including some more highlights from the budget below. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns about anything in the budget or any votes I cast, do not hesitate to reach out. If you want more information about the budget, visit the Ways and Means Committee page on the South Carolina State House website: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/Ways&MeansBudgetDocuments/BudgetDocuments.php. 

2021 Statehouse Report # 10

2021-2022 State Budget

Next week, my colleagues and I are debating the South Carolina State budget for 2021-2022. During this historic week of the year, we meet for 4 days, usually running into the late evening hours. We will debate and vote on the budget recommended by the House Ways and Means Committee. Once we vote, the budget will move to the Senate. Finally, it will move back to the House for final modifications and approval, before being sent to the Governor for his approval.

The past year has been unique and challenging in many ways. Due to financial challenges caused by COVID-19 last year, the House made the hard decision to not pass a budget that would authorize new spending in South Carolina for 2020-2021. This was the best option for our state at the time, and thanks to strong leaders who have prioritized conservatism, our state’s economy is back on track. 

 The 2021-2022 budget is built on the foundation of protecting taxpayers, a renewed commitment to being resourceful and efficient, funding core functions of state government, and providing value for every dollar we spend. There is also a new sense of awareness and preparedness for disasters, whether we face a weather-related natural disaster or health emergency. A conservative budget has been created that includes the following items:

-       No Sales Taxes on Groceries 

-       Homestead Exceptions for Seniors

-       Over $650M in a Tax Relief Fund 

-       Rate Cuts for Small Businesses for Unemployment Insurance

2021 Statehouse Report # 9

Maintaining the Integrity of our Elections

This week, I voted in favor of legislation (H.3444) regarding our state's election laws. This legislation has two goals: one, to maintain the integrity of each and every vote cast, and two, to ensure elections are run consistently across the state. After the elections of 2020, it became clear that there were discrepancies in the way each county handled votes. Simply put, we learned that counties were employing inconsistent processes, which is unacceptable. Upon ratification, this legislation would task the State Election Commission with ensuring there is a uniformity to guarantee free and fair elections. I supported this bill and it passed by a vote of 84-36.

2021 Statehouse Report # 8

2021-22 State Budget

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee worked diligently crafting our state’s budget. The Committee unanimously passed a conservative bill that will likely hit the floor the week of March 22^nd for debate. We took into account the recommendations made in Governor McMaster’s executive budget that focuses on COVID-19 relief, pay raises for law enforcement and rebuilding our state’s reserve fund. I plan to be on the House floor for the debate on this bill working to ensure our state’s resources are allocated wisely and efficiently.

2021 Statehouse Report # 7

A big item on the calendar this week was a bill to amend the Governor’s Executive Powers during a State of Emergency, such as we have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill provides a legislative check to the Governor’s powers. After 30 days the power to extend, modify, or discontinue the order falls into the hands of the legislature. After 30 days, the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate may call the legislature back. Or, 10 of our 46 county legislative delegations can petition to bring the General Assembly back in to take action. At any rate, this bill allows for greater accountability to the wishes of South Carolina’s citizens. Debate was heard this week and I voted in favor of the bill on Thursday. The bill passed by a vote of 109-3 on second reading.

2021 Statehouse Report # 6

Making History: Passing the Heartbeat Bill

The Heartbeat Bill, which outlaws abortions in the state of South Carolina after a heartbeat has been detected (around 6-8 weeks of pregnancy), passed the House this week and was signed into law by Governor McMaster on Thursday. This long-anticipated bill passed the House last year only to burn out in the Senate. Once it was taken back up in the Senate and passed, I was ready to vote yes!

After what ended up being an emotionally explosive day, where most of the Democrat members walked out, the bill passed by a vote of 79-35. This bill is a huge step in the right direction of protecting the innocent life of the unborn and I am honored to be part of the largest pro-life bill to pass in South Carolina history. 

2021 Statehouse Report #5

Important COVID-19 Developments

Thank you to the frontline workers, healthcare professionals, DHEC, the Governor, and all of my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to vaccinating at-risk members of our State. 

Here are some recent updates and developments: 

-       As of, February 8^th, people in SC aged 65+ began receiving the COVID-19 vaccination 

-       On February 10^th, 17 CVS Pharmacies throughout the state began offering over 15,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible individuals. In our area, the following locations are administering vaccines: [insert local vaccine locations]

-       To date, SC has received 970,250 vaccinations from the Federal government; 548,214 have been given (Most recent DHEC data, updated Feb. 10). 

-       Right now, we are in Phase 1A of the vaccination process. If you meet any of the following criteria you can make an appointment to get your COVID-19 vaccine:

o   Frontline healthcare workers

o   Anyone 65+ years 

o   State/local government employees who perform COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in SC

o   A full list of those qualified can be found here: https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine

2021 Statehouse Report # 4

This week, we wrapped up week #4 of the 2021 session. I am happy to report lots of progress was made – from appointing new judges, to making progress in vaccinating our state, to advancing the Heartbeat Bill and much more.Add your news summary here.

2021 Statehouse Report #3

Overview of the week

2021 Statehouse report #2

Overview of the week:

This week, legislative committee meetings were held virtually. This was able to happen due to a rule change passed last week. Although this change presented a unique set of challenges, we were happy that we were able to continue working. In particular, I am the Vice Chair of the Rules committee and I also serve on the Ag Committee and wildlife sub committee. This week I had my first virtual committee meeting. It was a very different experience for me to say the least. I guess this is the way many meetings will be held in the near future, but I am looking forward to the day when we can get back to "normal" meetings. You can watch a recorded version of committee meetings at the statehouse with the following link. : https://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/archives.php. 

2021 Statehouse Report #1

Overview of the week:

This week, we began the 1^st regular session of the 124^th General Assembly. I was ready to be back in our state capital and am hopeful for a productive 2021! After the rollercoaster ride of 2020, this year is the perfect year for reform, transparency, and accountability. This week, we hit the ground running. So far, over 900 bills have been prefiled and many were introduced this week. Although there is a lot of excellent conservative legislation this session, I am most excited about the items below, which help further our Conservative Republican agenda: 

2020 Statehouse Report #10

Overview

The past week we have all had to adapt to the “new normal” of social distancing, working from home, school closures, empty grocery stores, and new changes being implemented every day. I want to commend everyone for how you are handling these changes, the way our community is looking out for one another is one of the positives I have seen come out of this situation. Our executive branch, state agencies, and the legislature are working in sync to make the best decisions for the citizens of South Carolina. I have provided many state agency resources below to keep you up to date on important information. 

2020 Statehouse Report #9

Budget Week

After months of working with Gov. McMaster, building consensus, and many hours of debate I joined my House colleagues to pass the 2020-2021 fiscal year General Appropriation Bill by a vote of 120-2—an overwhelming bi-partisan consensus. This year, we focused our budget on the 4 R’s: relief for taxpayers, building up our reserves, expediting our road projects, and giving raises to those who need it most. 

We worked closely with Gov. McMaster to include 325 of his recommendations in our budget process—an all-time record. This includes expanding 4-K education, providing permanent tax reform and relief, and investing in our state’s teachers. 

When we began assembling this budget, it was important to me that it be built on the foundation of protecting taxpayers, a renewed commitment to being resourceful and efficient, funding only core functions of state government, and providing value for every dollar we spend.

2020 Statehouse Report #8

Overview

The week began with a huge development for the future of our state-owned utility Santee Cooper. 

Other pieces of legislation making big strides this week are the Convention of States resolution that puts constitutional limits on the federal government and a bill that would close a current loophole for inmates on death row. Currently, state law allows death-row inmates to pick lethal injection or electrocution but mandates using lethal injection if inmates do not make a choice. Manufacturers that make lethal injection drugs have stopped selling them to prisons so this bill fixes the loophole by making the electric chair the default method.

Next week, my colleagues and I will be working on the state budget. I will update you soon on how the budget worked out for us all. 

2020 Statehouse Report #7

Overview

Hearings about the future of our state-owned utility Santee Cooper kicked off this week in the House with a special ad hoc committee of nine of my House colleagues.  The committee, chaired by Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, heard from members of the Department of Administration, NextEra Energy, Dominion Energy, Santee Cooper and Central/Co-Ops.  Committee meetings will continue next week, and I remain committed to hearing more about this issue.

2020 Statehouse Report #6

Overview

We were busy this week at the State House with a lot of behind the-scenes work as we debated in committees on this year’s state budget, Santee Cooper, education, opioid abuse, and a host of other important issues. Budget week will start on March 10^th so until then we will continue to spend more time in committee then we will on the floor. Keep reading to see what is included in the House Ways and Means 2020-2021 budget proposal.

2020 Statehouse Report #5

Overview

This week brought about one of the biggest decisions the General Assembly will ever face, the fate of our state-owned utility Santee Cooper. Much of the work in the State House over the next few weeks will focus on the Santee Cooper issue and drafting this year’s state budget. Between these two important issues, we plan to continue the work we started last session on education reform and streamlining the process of business license fees. 

2020 Statehouse Report #4

Overview

I hope everyone stayed safe during the storms that spanned across our entire state yesterday. The bad weather did not stop the legislature from taking up some important legislation this week. On Tuesday I was proud to join my colleagues from the House and Senate to elect 34 judges and 10 new board members to state universities. Congratulations to everyone who was elected!

2020 Statehouse Report #3

Overview
The last week of January was a busy one in Columbia filled with committee meetings and teachers visiting the State House! Teachers from around the state visited the Capitol while the Senate was addressing the education bill this week and while the House was debating different education initiatives. It was also Carolina Day on Wednesday which brought all of the UofSC campuses together to celebrate the General Assembly’s efforts to support higher education. I am proud to have supported a bill last year that froze tuition rates for in-state students at 7 of UofSC’s 8 campuses throughout the state.

2020 Statehouse Report #2

Overview
Governor Henry McMaster led South Carolina into the roaring 20’s with his State of the State speech on Wednesday and outlined a bright future for the 5,148,000 who call our state home. The Governor laid out a sincere plan to move SC forward and I am ready to work with the entire General Assembly to turn it into reality.

2020 Statehouse Report #1

Overview
The House has officially begun the second session of the 123rd South Carolina General Assembly. I am very excited to get back to work on our conservative agenda we began last year. On Monday, Governor McMaster released an overview of his budget priorities. I am looking forward to next Wednesday, when he will lay out his entire plan during his State of the State address. The Governor is expected to talk about continuing the efforts we started last year to reform education and cut taxes. His plan will also include his ideas on using a portion of this year’s budget surplus to send back to hardworking taxpayers. I am confident that the House and the Governor will work together this session and I look forward to another great session at the State House.

2019 Statehouse Report #18

Dear Constituent:


Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your State Representative in Columbia. With the first session of the 123rd General Assembly ending earlier this month, I am including an update on the accomplishments in the South Carolina House of Representatives over the past few months.


During his State of the State address in January, Governor McMaster proclaimed this year to be the ‘Year of Education,’ and the House took that charge seriously by passing a transformative education bill aimed at fundamentally reforming the way we educate our children. In addition, the House passed a balanced, efficient, value-driven budget; took the necessary steps to protect ratepayers and taxpayers in the Santee Cooper debacle; gave teachers and state employees a much-deserved raise; expanded solar energy options for consumers; took steps to protect the lives of the unborn and passed numerous other positive legislative initiatives.


While not all of the bills that passed the House were passed by the Senate or signed by the Governor, here are a few of the major accomplishments from the House this session. As a reminder, this is the first year of a two-year session, so legislation that did not pass the Senate can be continued when we return next January.

2019 Statehouse Report #17

Legislative Update
Sine Die Edition
Week 18

Overview
The House gaveled to a close this week after dozens of bills and the Sine Die Resolution passed both the House and Senate. This was the first year of a two-year session that focused primarily on transformative education reform, presenting a balanced and efficient budget, solutions for Santee Cooper, and the pro-life ‘Heartbeat’ legislation. Although regular session has ended, we will continue to work over the next few weeks in conference committees. We will return in two weeks for a special session to discuss Santee Cooper, vote on the budget, and receive any vetoes from Governor McMaster.


We passed dozens of bills this week, here are some of the highlights. Be on the lookout over the next few weeks for a full legislative wrap up.

2019 Statehouse Report #16

Legislative Update
Week 17


Overview
The countdown is on as the final week of this legislative session approaches. Three legislative days remain however the good news is this is the first year of a two-year session and there is much more we hope to accomplish.


This week thousands of teachers from around South Carolina visited the State House to express their concerns and offer input on South Carolina’s education system. I was proud to vote for the education bill, now being deliberated in the Senate, that includes raising teacher pay, reducing the number of state required tests, giving teachers 30-minute duty free time, and providing resources for mental health officers.


We appreciate the teachers who remained in their classrooms on Wednesday and value the input all teachers who are on the educational frontlines every day. Under the leadership of Speaker Jay Lucas, the House continues to push comprehensive and bold education reform and we hope to continue working with teachers, parents, and community leaders to bring South Carolina’s education system into the 21st century.

2019 Statehouse Report #15

Legislative Update
Week 16


Overview
I hope everyone had a great spring break and Easter weekend. With two weeks left of session and the crossover deadline behind us, we have a busy few weeks ahead as we begin to take up bills from the Senate.

2019 Statehouse Report #14

Legislative Update
Week 14

Overview
We tee’d off Master’s weekend and the beginning of our furlough week with a special visit from the Carolina Panthers football team. Head Coach Ron Rivera visited the State House along with players, executives, and their beloved mascot Sir Purr. The welcomed visit comes as legislation is moving through the Senate to provide professional sports teams the same incentives the state gives other companies when they bring an attractive number of employees and economic benefits to the state.

The legislation has already passed the House and following approval in the Senate will have the potential to bring hundreds of millions of dollars into South Carolina through jobs and infrastructure.

2019 Statehouse Report #13

Legislative Update: Week 13

Overview

Tremendous progress was made on the calendar this week, numerous bills were passed and have been sent to the Senate. This is an extremely busy time during legislative session because we are approaching the crossover deadline. Crossover is the last day for a bill to pass out of the House and move forward for consideration in the Senate. The House has worked proactively and passed many bills that are awaiting consideration in the Senate including:

H. 3759 – The S.C. Education, Career, Opportunity, and Access for All Act
H. 4000 and H. 4001 – The General Appropriations Bill and Capital Reserve Fund (the budget)
H. 4243 – Professional Sports Team Investment Act
H. 3046 – Provide for the Offense of Furthering Terrorism
H. 3659 – South Carolina Energy Freedom Act

2019 Statehouse Report #12

Legislative Update: Week 12

Overview
This week was a big step forward in reducing income taxes in South Carolina. Months ago, House Speaker Jay Lucas created a special legislative committee to focus on tax reform and research what we can do to improve our tax system. The first bill to come out of the committee is focused on reducing income taxes. A major highlight of this bill (H.4334) is that it will reduce income taxes from 7% to a flat rate of 4.5% making SC even more competitive with neighboring states.
It has been a very busy three months at the State House. We have sent 99 bills to the Senate, yet a large majority have not been taken up. We look forward to seeing them work as hard as we have in the House on education and the budget.

2019 Statehouse Report #11

Legislative Update
Week 11


Overview:
This week the House made historic progress toward protecting South Carolina ratepayers and taxpayers. With two joint resolutions, one from the House, one from the Senate, the consensus is building in both chambers for the sale of state-owned utility Santee Cooper.

2019 Statehouse Report #10

Legislative Update
Week 10

Overview:
The days are finally getting longer and we’re nearing the middle of the legislative session which, for the House, means this week was “Budget Week,” our weeklong debate on the $8.7 billion 2019-2020 budget. After going through the budget line by line and working past midnight, we successfully sent this year’s budget to the Senate with only one “nay” vote. See below for more details on what is included in this year’s budget.


Another exciting moment for South Carolina happened this week when it was revealed the Carolina Panthers are working on a deal to move their NFL team’s headquarters and training facilities out of Charlotte and into South Carolina! This would be a huge economic win for our state that would drive hundreds of millions of dollars into our economy. We are working on legislation that will help make this possible by providing incentives and working with SCDOT to provide infrastructure improvements for the Rock Hill and York County areas.


It is proving to be a big year for South Carolina’s economy with the Governor and lawmakers working together to create a balanced budget, reforming our antiquated tax system, and focusing on efforts to attract businesses into our state.

2019 Statehouse Report #9

Legislative Update
Week 9

Overview
Two jackpots in one week!First, the winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot from last year finally claimed their prize…which means the State of South Carolina will reap aone-time, $61 million reward. So, when the House starts debate on the budget next week, we’ll add that amount to what we were already budgeting to provide tax relief and we’ll be able to return $96 million to taxpayers. This will result in a one-time, $50 taxpayer rebate for every South Carolinian with an income tax liability.

Second, on Wednesday night the House passed the S.C. Education, Career, Opportunity, and Access for All Act that will serve as the starting point in bringing our education system into the 21st century. We increased teacher pay, eliminated several mandatory tests,and we strengthened the ‘Read to Succeed’ program.

2019 Statehouse Report #8

Legislative Update
Week 8

Overview
This week started with the General Assembly honoring the Clemson Tigers winning the 2018
national football championship and an inspiring speech by head football Coach Dabo Swinney
on the importance (and effectiveness) of unity in order to get things done. It was a good reminder
this week as my colleagues and I continue to debate the transformational education reform bill
that’s moving through the House, and as we begin discussions regarding this year’s budget.

2019 Statehouse Report #7

Legislative Update
Week 7

Overview
This week was another busy week in Columbia. Progress was made on the comprehensive education reform bill and this year’s budget was successfully passed out of the Ways and Means Committee. The 2019-2020 budget is built on the foundation of protecting taxpayers, a renewed commitment to being resourceful and efficient,funding only core functions of state government, and providing value for every dollar we vote to spend. Because of our fiscally conservative budgeting, South Carolina is currentlyone of only fourteen states with a AAA credit ratingaccording to Moody’s. Our debt level is .39% of state revenues which is significantly lower than our constitutionally set 5% limit. In addition to efficiently funding the normal core functions of government, this year we are making substantive investments in education and workforce development. We have prioritized public and higher education not only because we owe it to our students, but also to ensure our students are prepared for the workforce.

2019 Statehouse Report #6

Legislative Update
Week 6


Overview:
Education reform was once again in the forefront this week. As always, I am grateful and pleased with all of the comments I have received from our community on fixing this issue. We are working hard on both sides of the aisle to make this comprehensive reform bill the best it can be for our students and teachers.

Bonus Update 2019 Education bill H.3759

This is a long read, but an interesting one about the proposed education bill (H.3759) . As you read this keep an open mind. Nothing is set in stone, this bill can be amended to better suit the students here in SC. Even if you don't have children or grandchildren the SC education has an effect on your future. The children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. SC students are without a doubt the most precious resource
that we have. It's incumbent upon us to make sure that they receive thebest education possible.

2019 Statehouse Report #5

Legislative Update
Week 5

Overview:
We are now over a month into the legislative session and I am very pleased with the progress being made. In the next few weeks, I expect to see developments with the education reform bill, a plan for reforming the tax system and an outline for next year’s budget. I am excited and prepared to keep working hard for you and the best interests of all South Carolinians.

2019 Statehouse Report #4

Legislative Update
Week 4


Overview:
This week several different groups made trips to the State House. It was great to be able to meet with each of them and discuss many of the important issues that we’re dealing with this session. On Tuesday, teachers from across the state came to talk about teacher pay, fewer mandatory tests and ideas to allow them more time to teach. UofSC impact day was on Wednesday when students visited the Higher Education Subcommittee to discuss issues important to colleges and technical schools. We also welcomed EMT’s, the National Guard and high school students this week as well.

2019 Statehouse Report #3

Legislative Update
2019 Week 3


Overview:
Working closely with Gov. Henry McMaster, leaders in the House and Senate promised to be bold this legislative session, and this week showed just how serious they are. The Governor devoted almost one-third of his entire State of the State speech to the need to find solutions to our outdated education system. On top of that, House Speaker Jay Lucas released a comprehensive education reform package. (More on that later.)


As the legislative session moves along it is apparent that the overarching themes will be education and tax reform. One of my top priorities is to be a steward of the taxpayer’s dollar and my goal is to make sure the tax code is the best it can be for South Carolinians.


The House Tax Reform Committee continued its work this week and is working hard on how to best overhaul SC’s tax structure with the goal to create a fairer and lower tax burden on individuals and businesses.

2019 Statehouse Report #2

Second Week of 2019 Session
Legislative Update
January 15, 2019


Overview of the week:
We have been hard at work in Columbia this week in committees focusing on the many bills that crossed the desk the first day of session. There are over 70 bills in education and well over 100 bills in judiciary alone. In the chamber this week, I joined my fellow house members in unanimously supporting legislation to exempt federal workers in SC from being penalized for not paying their property taxes on time while the federal government is shut down.

2019 Statehouse Report #1

First Week of 2019 Session
Legislative Update
January 8, 2019


Overview of the week:
The beginning of 2019-2020 legislative session kicked off in a big way with inaugural festivities for Governor Henry McMaster, Lt. Governor Pamela Evette and our seven other Constitutional officers. Gov. McMaster’s inauguration address focused heavily on tax reform, education reform, infrastructure and making sure South Carolina has a bright future ahead of us. When the House gaveled into its first session of the year, we saw 500 pre-filed bills cross the desk. Each of these bills was assigned to a Committee. Those bills will be deliberated, developed and made ready for full debate on the floor of the House.

2018 House Republican Caucus End Of Session Report

Government Reorganization And Reform:

H.4977 - Governor And Lieutenant Governor Restructuring
Formalizes the 2012 voter-approved constitutional amendment that ends the practice of electing the governor and lieutenant governor separately. 2018 will be the first year in which the party nominees for governor will select a lieutenant governor candidate as a running mate.
STATUS: Passed by the House and Senate and signed by the governor

2018 Legislative Report

Dear Constituent,

Last week the legislature concluded its regular session as defined by the state constitution. I have worked diligently to fulfill my promises to streamline state government, balance the budget, and protect utility ratepayers, among many other priorities. However, there is still work to be done. The House and Senate are still negotiating final outcomes for a budget agreement, federal conformity of the state’s tax code, and reforms to protect electric utility ratepayers.

In the meantime, I have listed below what we have been able to pass out of the House of Representatives over the legislative session.

Statehouse Report #17

Thursday marked what is known as Sine Die – or “without days” –, the traditional deadline for passing legislation during regular session of the legislature. During the week of Sine Die, there is typically a flood of legislation passed, and this week was no different. As of today, there are three categories of legislation: 1) Bills that passed both the House and Senate by the Thursday Sine Die deadline; 2) Bills that did not pass in both the House and Senate before the Sine Die deadline; 3) Bills that did not pass both the House and Senate before the Sine Die deadline, but were included in a resolution passed this week giving the legislature the authority to revisit them.

Statehouse Report #16

The House took a major step on Thursday to make our public schools safer by making it easier to hire school resource officers. There are currently 590 public schools in South Carolina that do not employ a school resource officer. The lack of available officers and hiring restrictions have made it difficult for school systems to hire more new officers. Many retired law enforcement officers have expressed interest in using their previous training to work as a school resource officer; however, current state law caps salaries of retired state employees who wish to serve to $10,000 a year. To fix this problem, the House lifted the $10,000 cap so retired state workers can apply for the many open school resource officer positions. $15 million dollars of state lottery funds will pay for other school safety measures as well including metal detectors, security cameras, and door locks. State dollars will be allocated for poor school districts that cannot afford to hire school resource officers.

Statehouse Report #15

The South Carolina House declined to concur on Wednesday with a Senate bill that would not eliminate the full nuclear surcharge SCE&G customers are being forced to pay for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. The House and Governor Henry McMaster believe the 18% nuclear surcharge should be completely eliminated so ratepayers do not have to pay for a failed and fraudulent nuclear project. As of April 26th, SCE&G ratepayers have been forced to pay $2 billion for the V.C. Summer nuclear project. The Senate believes the 18% surcharge should but cut to 5%, which would still result in the collection of over $300,000 per month from ratepayers to SCE&G. Due to the House’s action on Wednesday, the House and Senate will each select three members from its chambers to be on a joint conference committee that will negotiate a resolution to this bill. If the Senate refuses to work with the House and governor to provide temporary rate relief, ratepayers will be required to continue paying the 18% nuclear surcharge every month.

Statehouse Report #14

This week the House of Representatives amended and overwhelmingly passed a bill (72-36) to enhance current state law banning sanctuary cities in our state. The bill will now go to the Senate for its approval. This legislation will authorize the circuit court to determine if a political subdivision has violated the provisions of this law that prohibit interfering with enforcement. If a political subdivision is found to be in violation, that political subdivision will be barred from receiving Local Government Fund appropriations for at least three consecutive years.

Statehouse Report #13

This week marked what is known as the “crossover” deadline, in which bills passed by either the full House or Senate must be sent to the opposite chamber for a vote in order to be considered for final passage. For instance, if a bill that originated in the House earlier this year had not received a final up or down vote in that chamber by April 10th, the “crossover” deadline, the bill would be effectively dead because the House missed the deadline to send the bill to the Senate. However, if 2/3rds of those present and voting in the Senate agreed to waive the rule, a House bill passed after “crossover” could be placed on the calendar for consideration. As of Thursday’s adjournment, there are only 12 legislative days left for each chamber to pass final versions of bills and send them to the governor to be signed into law.

Statehouse Report #12

The House overwhelmingly passed a Santee Cooper reform bill this week in order to protect ratepayers and prevent another failure like the V.C. Summer nuclear project from happening again. The three-pronged approach (1) provides a new governance structure to hold the Santee Cooper Board of Directors accountable, (2) increases ratepayer protections by creating the Santee Cooper Rate Reduction and Stabilization Fund, and (3) creates the Santee Cooper Joint Evaluation and Recommendation Committee (SCJERC) that will determine whether a sale is in the best interest of ratepayers and taxpayers and puts a transparent process in place to vet potential buyers. The bill creates the Santee Cooper Rate Reduction and Stabilization Fund and requires it to be explicitly used for rate relief. Funds include: Toshiba settlement money, any gains made from the sale or salvage of V.C. Summer assets, and cost savings from governance. The legislation also authorizes the governor to remove at-will all current Santee Cooper board members and shortens the terms from seven years to four years.

Statehouse Report #11

On Wednesday the House Judiciary Committee debated a bill that would effectively ban municipalities in our state from declaring themselves, or acting as, sanctuary cities. Specifically, the legislation directs the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to create, prepare, maintain, and certify what will be known as the Immigration Compliance Report (ICR). SLED will certify compliance with federal laws related to the presence of an unlawful person in the United States as part of the ICR. The bill authorizes SLED to conduct criminal investigations to verify certifications and ensure compliance by political subdivisions. Individuals who intentionally falsify compliance documentation may be subject to persecution and municipalities could lose state-appropriated local government funds for a minimum of three consecutive years. This legislation passed in committee and will be voted on by the full House.

Statehouse Report #10

The focus of the House this week was almost exclusively on the budget. Democrats were seeking to raise taxes on the people of South Carolina in two ways. The first was an increase in taxes for firearms, which would have unfairly penalized lawful gun owners. Republicans soundly defeated the Democrats’ firearm tax increase. The second tax hike push by Democrats was their effort to repeal the Homestead Exemption for one year, also known as Act 388. The Homestead Exemption exempts taxes on the first $50,000 in fair market value for homeowners over age 65, the totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind. House Republicans successfully defeated this tax hike measure put forward by the Democrats.

Statehouse Report #9

On Wednesday a bipartisan House coalition led by Speaker Jay Lucas held a press conference in the statehouse calling for the Senate to take up legislation amended by the House to reduce SCE&G rates and provide immediate relief for hundreds of thousands of customers. Because of the Senate’s refusal to debate and adopt House-passed legislation, SCANA continues to collect $1.2 million a day from ratepayers in order to pay for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. As of Friday, March 9, the Senate’s unwillingness to act has cost SCANA customers over $45 million since February 1st, the day the House sent our ratepayer protection bill to the Senate for review.

Statehouse Repoert #8

On Tuesday the House took up a Senate resolution relating to the proposal by Dominion Energy to purchase SCANA Corporation. In the resolution, the Senate extended the amount of time the Public Service Commission has to review the Dominion-SCANA acquisition bid. However, the Senate did not address the most glaring issue ratepayers are facing every month, which is the 18% nuclear surcharge SCANA is forcing its customers to pay for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear energy project. Ratepayers are now paying $37 million a month for a nuclear plant that was never built. The House believes this is unacceptable and therefore altered the Senate resolution by completely eliminating the nuclear surcharge SCANA is charging its customers until the PSC can make a decision on the merger. The altered resolution has been sent back to the Senate for approval.

Statehouse Report #7

On Wednesday the House received a Senate resolution that extends the period of time the South Carolina Public Service Commission has to review a proposal by Dominion Energy to purchase SCANA Corporation. While an extension of time to review an acquisition bid may be merited, the House believes the main priority of the legislature should be addressing the existing 18% nuclear surcharge SCANA forces its customers to pay every month for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. The House has taken the position that the nuclear surcharge should be reduced to zero while the acquisition bid is being reviewed. Concerns about existing language of the Senate resolution will be addressed next week by the House Judiciary Committee.

Statehouse Report #6

On Thursday, the House passed legislation to reform the Public Service Commission (PSC) by a vote of 108-1. The legislation (1) strengthens ethical standards to limit outside utility influence, (2) requires stricter questioning of parties by commissioners before making a decision, (3) provides ability to inspect utility construction sites and (4) staggers the election terms for current commissioners.

Statehouse report #5

The bipartisan House Utility Ratepayer Protection Committee met again this week to further discuss the future of electric cooperative ratepayers who rely on Santee Cooper for their electricity. The Committee’s main concern, and my main concern, continues to be the protection of all ratepayers. The fact-finding meeting lasted several hours as representatives from the electric cooperative industry discussed their current status and future trajectory.