This marks the fourth legislative week of 2019, and several important bills are building momentum in the House and Senate.
On the floor, the Senate will take up a bill that increases the South Carolina Research Authority’s budget by doubling the cap on available tax credits for the “Industry Partnership Trust Fund” (from $6 million to $12 million). It would also prevent SCRA board members from receiving this credit, a conflict of interest that is currently legal. The House does not have have any bills scheduled at this time.
There are also a number of bills being heard in committee this week. In the House, one bill could force private individuals to testify before and turn over their financial records to legislative committees, and another would make it illegal to use a cellphone while driving. In the Senate, a bill that would allow the Department of Revenue to get individuals’ financial information is getting its first hearing, along with two bills that would significantly impact K-12 and higher education. For the full list, scroll to the bottom of the page.
House floor session
- No scheduled bills
Senate floor session
- S.214 – Collecting sales tax from online retailers (SCPC analysis)
- S.309 – Doubles the budget of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCPC analysis)
- S.16 – Modifies limits for prescription medication refills
- S.35 – Mandatory U.S. constitution instruction for colleges
- S.75 – Insurer corporate governance disclosure
- S.358 – SC Insurance Guaranty Association
- S.360 – Department of Insurance procedures
- S.228 – Creates Tri-County Technical College Enterprise Campus Authority (SCPC analysis)
Tuesday – 1/29/19
House committee meetings
Ways and Means budget subcommittee hearings: Constitutional, Economic Development, and Healthcare
Motor Vehicles subcommittee
- H.3312 – Funnels special license plate fees to the state highway fund
Property Tax subcommittee
- H. 3411 – Online Tax Lien Index and Filing System
- H.3274 – Local government cannot regulate cigarettes, alternative nicotine products
Transportation subcommittee
- H.3355 – Unlawful to text and drive
Ways and Means Committee
- H.3135 – Lifts cap on military retirement tax deductible
- H.3136 – Expands exceptional needs tax credit
- H.3137 – Alters the local government fund (SCPC analysis)
- H. 3411 – Online Tax Lien Index and Filing System
- H.3576 – Additional scholarship for students majoring in critical needs areas
- H.3595 – Adjusts the Industry Partnership Fund tax credit (SCPC analysis)
Judiciary Committee
- H.3472 – Allows Attorney General to carry firearm while on duty
- H.3417 – Establishes illegal immigration unit within SLED
- H.3446 – Allows legislative committees to subpoena private individuals (Nerve story)
- H.3420 – Prohibits minors from entering tobacco shops
- H.3031 – Shortens voter registration window
- H.3035 – Loosens requirements for poll workers
Senate committee meetings
Finance budget subcommittee hearings: Transportation and Regulatory
Property tax subcommittee
- S.426 – DOT to appropriate funds for Sandy Island boat ramp
Judiciary subcommittee
- S.290 – Regulates curbside pickup of beer and wine
- S.18 – Allows DUI offenders to enroll in the interlock ignition program
Finance subcommittee
- S.310 – Stricter regulation on unstamped cigarettes
- S.314 – Creates income tax credit for clinical rotations completed by medical students
- S.323 – Department of Revenue can compel financial information from individuals’ banks
- S.398 – Grace period for unstamped cigarettes
- S.318 – Creates new fund for “pay-for-success” contracts
Wednesday – 1/30/19
House committee meetings
Ways and Means budget subcommittee hearings: Constitutional, Transportation and Regulatory, Public Education, Law Enforcement, Economic Development, and Healthcare
Higher Education subcommittee
- H.3398– Permanently establishes Tucker Hipps Transparency Act
Education subcommittee
- H.3759 – Overhauls the state education system
Senate committee meetings
Finance budget subcommittee hearings: Criminal Justice
Higher Education subcommittee
- S.289 – Amends higher education funding
Banking and Insurance subcommittee
- S.359 – Regulates pharmacy benefit managers
Education subcommittee
- S.203 – Provides criteria for school district consolidation
Thursday – 1/31/19
House committee meetings
Judiciary subcommittee
- H.3082 – Local governments may allow Sunday alcohol sales under certain circumstances
Senate committee meetings
Medical Affairs subcommittee
- S.132 – Offers more flexibility for physicians assistants
Who’s feeding your lawmakers?
- Design Construction Partnership
- SC Telecommunications and Broadband Association
- SC Emergency Medical Services Association
- Southern Association of College Admission Counseling
- University of South Carolina
- SC Green Industry Association
- SC Commission for the Blind