This is the third week of the 2019 legislative session, and the Senate has a number of bills scheduled for floor debate – including one that increases the tax credit for donations to the SC Research Authority, and another that increases emergency prescription refill limits. As of now, the House does not have any bills scheduled for debate on the floor, but that could change in the coming days. There are also several new bills being heard in committee (see the list below).
In addition to the House, the Senate has started working on its respective version of the budget and scheduled a few subcommittee hearings. These meetings are not streamed, meaning an individual would have to attend them in person in order to know how the budget is shaping up.
Finally, five separate organizations are hosting receptions or meals for lawmakers, including the South Carolina Bar and the SC Chamber of Commerce. For the full list, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Tuesday – 1/22/19
House committee meetings
Ways and Means budget subcommittee hearings: Constitutional, Transportation and Regulatory, Higher Education, Public Education, Law Enforcement, Economic Development, and Healthcare
Agriculture subcommittee
- H.3086 – Licensing for dog breeders
- H.3250 – Creates the fruit and vegetable snap grant program
- H.3449 – Dept of Agriculture is responsible for regulating hemp
Senate committee meetings
Finance Committee
- Budget trends and issues – Revenue and Fiscal Affairs presentation
Judiciary subcommittee
- S.182 – Requirements for new voting machines
- S.202 – Allows election commission to regulate post-election audits
Education subcommittee
- S.228 – Creates Tri-County Technical College Enterprise Campus Authority
Wednesday – 1/23/19
House committee meetings
Ways and Means budget subcommittee hearings: Constitutional, Transportation and Regulatory, Higher Education, Public Education, Law Enforcement, Economic Development, and Healthcare
Judiciary subcommittee
- H.3031 – Shortens voter registration window
- H.3035 – Loosens requirements for poll workers
- H.3472 – Allows Attorney General to carry firearm while on duty
Senate committee meetings
Finance budget subcommittee hearings: Criminal Justice
Medical Affairs subcommittee
- S.132 – Offers more flexibility for physicians assistants
Banking and Insurance Committee
- S.75 – Insurer corporate governance disclosure
- S.360 – Department of Insurance Procedures
- S.358 – SC Insurance Guaranty Association
Education Committee
- S.33 – Campus Free Expression Act
- S.35 – Public schools and colleges must teach the constitution, federalist papers, etc.
- S.228 – Creates Tri-County Technical College Enterprise Campus Authority
Thursday – 1/24/19
House committee meetings
Judiciary subcommittee
- H.3420 – Prohibits minors from entering tobacco shops
- H.3421 – Stronger requirements for purchasing nicotine products online
- H.3417 – Establishes illegal immigration unit within SLED
Senate committee meetings
Agriculture Committee
- S.259 – Creates a loan fund for flood disaster
- S.384 – Repeals hemp farm law to adopt new federal regulations
Finance budget subcommittee hearings: K-12 Education
Who's feeding your lawmakers?
- SC Chamber of Commerce
- SC Association of Special Purpose Districts
- SC Consortium for Gifted Education
- South Carolina Bar
- Forestry Association of South Carolina
