Times Examiner Facebook Logo

Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 06:48 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

This week, both chambers are scheduled to consider several significant bills.

On the floor, the Senate will take up a bill that ties General Fund revenues to higher education funding. Recently, the bill was amended to include giving colleges and universities the ability to create powerful – and unaccountable – mini-governments called “enterprise divisions” which have the power to bond, perform construction and exercise eminent domain. This proposal is also being pushed via a standalone bill, which is scheduled for subcommittee on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a panel of lawmakers will deliberate a bill that would legalize the use of medical cannabis. While the practice would still be heavily regulated, it would ultimately give qualified patients greater choice in coping with their medical conditions. Similar legislation has been filed in previous years.

That same day, the Santee Cooper evaluation committee (created via budget proviso last year) will meet (stream here). According to their agenda, the committee will be hearing a presentation by ICF International – the consulting firm hired by lawmakers. It should be noted that the Senate formed a separate committee to study the sale of Santee Cooper last week.

For the full list of bills and a list of the special interests feeding lawmakers this week, scroll to the bottom of the page.

House floor session

  • H.3760 – Additional regulations and fees for dentists and physicians
  • H.3362 – Driver’s license suspension for failing to pay a ticket does not constitute “habitual offender”
  • H.3916 – $500 fine for failing to register a vehicle 
  • H.3101 – Entering a multistate physician licensure compact
  • H.3438 – Division of Veterans Affairs moved to Governor’s office
  • H.3726 – Continuing education on opiate death required for coroners and medical examiners
  • H.3417 – Establishes illegal immigration unit within SLED
  • H.3274 – Local government cannot regulate cigarettes, alternative nicotine products
  • H.3355 – Bans use of cell phones while driving

Senate floor session

  • S.38 – SLED must investigate officer involved-shootings
  • S.105 – Amending penalties for animal cruelty
  • S.455 – Veterans’ spouses receive temporary occupational licenses
  • S.18 – Allows DUI offenders to enroll in the interlock ignition program
  • S.318 – Creates new fund for “pay-for-success” contracts
  • S.329 – Extends tax credit for purchasing geothermal machinery
  • S.362 – Creates solar energy tax credit
  • S.439 – Increases the port cargo tax credit
  • S.132 – Offers more flexibility for physicians assistants
  • S.277 – Regulation for speech language pathologists
  • S.298 – Ties General Fund revenues to higher education funding, creates “enterprise divisions”
  • S.214 – Collecting sales tax from online retailers (SCPC analysis)

Tuesday – 2/26/19

House committee meetings
LCI subcommittee

  • H.3263 – Exempts armed service members and their spouses from certain occupational licensing

Judiciary Committee

  • H.3082 – Local governments may allow Sunday alcohol sales under certain circumstances

Senate committee meetings

Judiciary subcommittee

  • H.3483 – Requires continuation of coal residue disposal practices

Sales and Income Tax subcommittee

  • S.440 – Modifies incentives for and removes cap on part of tax credit for rehabilitating abandoned textile mills
  • S.171 – Allows local governments to impose new sales tax via referendum

Transportation subcommittee

  • S.162 – $500 fine for failing to register a vehicle 


Wednesday – 2/27/19

Santee Cooper Evaluation and Recommendation Committee (stream here). Meeting will be held after both chambers adjourn.

House committee meetings

3-M subcommittee

  • H.3282 – Nursing homes and community care centers must have emergency generator
  • H.3807 – Prohibits minors from using tanning beds

Judiciary subcommittee

  • H.3602 – Person with relationship with patient can make healthcare decisions on their behalf
  • H.3737 – Adds two members to Richland-Lexington Airport District

Public Utilities subcommittee

  • H.3145 – Allows the ORS to audit electric cooperatives and imposes additional transparency requirements on boards and meetings, as well as additional regulations on how their elections may be conducted

Education & Public Works subcommittee

  • H.3759 – K-12 education omnibus bill. Creates Zero to Twenty Committee, criteria for school district consolidation, more requirements for reading coaches
  • H.3936 – Technical college students eligible for Palmetto Fellows scholarship
  • H.3789 – Amends drivers’ license fees, regulations
  • H.3952 – Regulations for golf carts and mopeds

3-M subcommittee

  • H.3621 – Regulation and fines for athletic trainers
  • H.3703 – Increases number of times physical therapists can take licensure test
  • H.3704 – Loosens regulations on physical therapists

Senate committee meetings

Education subcommittee

  • S.419 – K-12 education omnibus bill. Creates Zero to Twenty Committee, criteria for school district consolidation, more requirements for reading coaches

Education Committee

Education subcommittee

  • S.283 – Allows for creation of mini-governments (“enterprise divisions” within public colleges and universities

Medical Affairs subcommittee

  • S.366 – Legalizes medical cannabis

Banking and Insurance Committee

  • S.359 – Regulates pharmacy benefit managers

LCI subcommittee

  • S.394 – Prevents regulation of plastic bags by local government

Thursday – 2/28/19

House committee meetings

Election laws subcommittee

  • H.3032 – Removes party designation from clerk of court elections
  • H.3319 – Felons who have served sentence must be informed of voting rights

LCI Committee

  • H.3586 – Puts the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office in charge of upgrading 911 call centers
  • H.3263 – Exempts armed service members and their spouses from certain occupational licensing
  • H.3145 – Allows the ORS to audit electric cooperatives and imposes additional transparency requirements on boards and meetings, as well as additional regulations on how their elections may be conducted

Tax Policy Review Committee

  • Sales tax exemptions and sales tax reform

Senate committee meetings

Education subcommittee

  • H.3576 – Creates the SC Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship

Agriculture Committee

  • S.384 – Repeals hemp law in order to adopt federal regulations
  • S.281 – Intentional misrepresentation of a service animal is a misdemeanor
  • S.259 – Creates a loan fund for flood disaster

Who’s feeding your lawmakers?

  • Clemson University
  • SC Association of School Administrators
  • SC Baptist Convention
  • Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Association of Cosmetology Salon Professionals

No comments

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User