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 currently one of only fourteen states with a AAA credit rating according 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.
Highlights from the House Ways
and Means Committee Budget Proposal
*Almost $160 million to provide teachers a pay raise, helping to ensure that we recruit and retain the very best teachers.
*$44 million in recurring funds to colleges in exchange for an agreement to freeze the cost of tuition for in-state undergrad students.
*Almost $78 million for improvements to workforce partnership programs in technical colleges, including funding for training new workers, purchasing new workforce equipment and more.
*$40 million for new, paper-backup voting machines to ensure our election process is secure and fair.
*$20 million to exempt from income taxes the retirement income of military veterans and first responders, saving the average first responder and military veteran $350 each year.
Amendments to the Education Bill
On Wednesday, Gov. Henry
McMaster, House Speaker Jay Lucas, S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly
Spearman, and State Sen. Greg Hembree held a press conference in support of the
comprehensive education reform bill. After hearing input and concerns from
teachers, parents, students and the business community, the original
legislation was amended, and the bill is now stronger with the foundations of
bold reform still intact. The Education K-12 Subcommittee began hearing
debate and amendments following the press conference and passed the amended
bill out of the subcommittee on Thursday morning. The bill currently has 84
co-sponsors and is scheduled to be taken up in the full House Education
Committee next week.
Legislative News
Regulating Hemp
The House
passed H.3449 to remove the cap on the number of permitted hemp farms. Farmers
will still need to apply for a permit with the S.C. Department of Agriculture,
but there will no longer be a cap for the number of permits available or limits
on the number of acres that can be planted with hemp.
SC Energy Freedom Act
On
Thursday, I proudly voted for the
"SC Energy Freedom Act,” that will expand Solar Energy options in SC. The
bill passed the House unanimously and will
extend current rooftop solar customer "net metering" until 2021and
provide for the long-term net-metering rate to be set by the Public Service
Commission. The bill requires utility companies to create programs for
individuals to participate in community-based solar projects and establishes requirements to
ensure access for low and moderate-income individuals.
Palmetto Scholarship Protection
H. 3936 was
introduced in the House this week to protect high-performing students from
paying a penalty for starting at a two-year or technical college. This bill closes
a loophole in the law and will now ensure that a student who uses a Palmetto
Fellows Scholarship to attend an eligible two-year or technical school can
receive a maximum of four continuous semesters that can also be used to attend
an eligible four-year college.
Move
Over Month
The
House voted approval of a bill H. 3388 designating March as "Move Over Awareness
Month" in S.C. DOT and Public Safety are charged with conducting programs
during the month of March every year that emphasize the importance of motor
vehicle drivers
moving over into
an adjacent lane whenever possible when approaching or passing through a
highway work zone, an emergency scene, or any other traffic incident.
Get Well Soon…
I ask
that you keep our colleague Rep. Jimmy Bales in your thoughts and prayers. He is
doing much better after he collapsed on the House floor last Wednesday. We look
forward to his quick recovery and joining us back in the House soon.
Quote of the Week
“This
Ways and Means budget is a big win for South Carolina - prioritizing teachers,
students in rural school districts, classroom safety, tuition payers, and
workforce training. Our collaboration and communication on these items with
Speaker Lucas, Chairman Smith, and committee members in recent months was
unprecedented and is reflected in this budget. This cooperation bodes well for
future efforts on education reform, tax reform, and ratepayer relief.” –
Governor Henry McMaster
Additional Resources:
https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article226505250.html
https://www.thestate.com/news/local/education/article226472925.html
It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of SC and especially the people here in SC House District #39. Don't hesitate to contact me with any concerns.