At the end of each year, state lawmakers file a series of bills (known as “prefiles”) in anticipation of the upcoming legislative session. The following report looks at some of the most significant House prefiles, organized by category, as well as two bills gaining traction relating to state Coivd policy. Spending These bills offer a glimpse into some of next year’s spending priorities. Unsurprisingly, based on this sample, …
Posted: February 14, 2022 by South Carolina Policy Council
Analysis: Medical cannabis is a win, despite issues in bill
In late 2020, a Senate bill (S.150) was introduced that would give South Carolinians the right to use medical cannabis to treat certain debilitating conditions, called as the “Compassionate Care Act”. Now, after days of debate, and many years of sitting on the issue, the bill finally passed the Senate. Below is a breakdown of …
Posted: January 27, 2022 by South Carolina Policy Council
Analysis: Bill would let for-profit pipeline companies take citizens’ property
A House committee this week deliberated a bill that would allow for-profit pipeline companies to take citizens’ property using eminent domain. Two similar bills were filed in 2020. How your property gets taken H.3527 creates a process by which privately owned petroleum pipeline companies can use eminent domain to acquire land for pipeline projects. Under the bill, before a company could construct a new petroleum (oil) pipeline, or expand …
Posted: January 14, 2022 by South Carolina Policy Council
Half of House budget meetings not streamed in first week (now updated weekly)
Budget meetings sorted by week As part of our push for more government transparency, we have been tracking the streaming of legislative budget meetings each week. Below is list of how many budget meetings were held compared with how many were streamed, sorted by week. For a more thorough explanation of this issue, see our …
Posted: December 14, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
Bills to watch in 2022
At the end of each year, state lawmakers file a series of bills (known as “prefiles”) in anticipation of the upcoming legislative session. The following report looks at some of the most significant House prefiles, organized by category, as well as two bills gaining traction relating to state Coivd policy. Spending These bills offer a glimpse into some of next year’s spending priorities. Unsurprisingly, based on this sample, …
Posted: December 3, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
What happened at the Statehouse this week?
New bills filed (highlights) S.1236 – Providing every taxpayer a rebate of $100 for each month that the average regular price of gas exceeds $4 per gallon H.5223 – A handgun must not be confiscated, nor its owner arrested, if during a traffic stop the gun is found underneath a seat in the vehicle S.1247 – Creating a …
Posted: November 19, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
South Carolina needs judicial reform
1.20.22 UPDATE: Ahead of next month’s judicial elections, including for one seat on the state Supreme Court and Administrative Law Court, and many on the Court of Appeals, circuit court, and family court, enough candidates have dropped out that there are NO contested seats left. Lawmakers are left to choose from one candidate for each …
Posted: October 29, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
Let’s pump the brakes on the electric vehicle panic
*** On Wednesday, a special legislative committee tasked with “modernizing” the state’s transportation funding system met for the second time, once again alleging that the rise in electric and hybrid vehicles pose an existential threat to the state’s gas tax revenue (which is how road projects in South Carolina are primarily funded). The committee, assembled by Senate Finance Chairman Hugh …
Posted: June 25, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
Explosive spending, questionable provisos define next year’s budget
State lawmakers this week approved what will be the final version of next fiscal year’s $32 billion-plus budget, pending vetoes issued by the governor. The General Assembly will take up any vetoed items when it reconvenes next Tuesday for the final time this month. Not only is this budget the largest in state history, it contains a multitude of year-long provisos that alter state law and have little to do …
Posted: May 13, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
Examining South Carolina’s massive proposed budget
While the 2021 regular legislative session ends this week, lawmakers are set to return to Columbia in June – possibly on three separate occasions – to address a number of matters as allowed per the end-of-session rules, or “sine die” resolution. The most immediate of these legislative responsibilities is passing the state budget, as the …
Posted: May 12, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
Bills filed during 5/4/21 – 5/6/21
Regulations H.4324 – Proposing a state constitutional amendment to lift the sales restriction on liquor between 7pm and 9am H.4318 – Cable service providers must provide refunds for interruptions in service S.793 – Employers are not allowed to consider or request disclosure of the criminal record of an applicant for employment until after the candidate …