WHY MUST THE STATE DECIDE THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO DRAW A TREE? South Carolina faces many problems. The fact that graphic designs of palmetto trees aren’t standardized is not one of them. Nonetheless, H.4201 – co-sponsored by Reps. Martin, Pope, Delleney, and Huggins – addresses this non-problem. The bill would task the director of …
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: April 16, 2021 by South Carolina Policy Council
Requiring businesses serving liquor to earn majority of their revenue from food, non-alcoholic drinks
S.536, which received a committee hearing Wednesday, would require businesses serving liquor-based drinks to earn at least 51% of their total revenue from food and non-alcoholic beverages. The bill would expand South Carolina’s already restrictive liquor laws, which don’t recognize traditional bars or nightclubs. Instead, any business (with exceptions for hotels and micro distilleries) …
Posted: January 29, 2019 by South Carolina Policy Council
S.290 – Allowing curbside pickup of beer and wine
S.290 would allow retailers to offer curbside pickup of beer and wine. Customers under this bill may pre-purchase beer and wine online from a retailer, but must follow rules on where to park and certify they are at least 21 years old. Retailers would also be subject to stricter inventory management rules. Retailers who violate …
Posted: January 28, 2019 by South Carolina Policy Council
S.379 – Regulatory Loophole for Electric Cars
S.379 – would create a regulatory loophole for the manufacturers of electric. The bill would allow electric vehicle producers to sell directly to the individual customers, while the manufacturers of all other cars are forced to sell through licensed car dealerships. The exemption of electric cars from this rule is a legislative attempt to give …
Posted: January 22, 2019 by South Carolina Policy Council
S.13 – Regulates display of barber poles
S.13 would make it illegal for an individual or business to display a barber pole for the purpose of offering barber services without a barber’s license, with penalties of up to a year of jail time and five thousand dollars in fines for violating this section. This is simply more regulation on an industry that …
Posted: January 16, 2019 by South Carolina Policy Council
S.109 – Regulations for electric fences
S.109 would impose regulations on electric fences used in security systems. Installers would be subject to fence height and power limitations, sign posting rules and even a requirement that the battery must be charged primarily by solar panel. Individuals who violate these rules could face fines of up to five thousand dollars. While certain safety …
Posted: January 16, 2019 by South Carolina Policy Council
S.156 – Bans cell phones in prisons
S.156 would codify Department of Corrections’ (SCDC) current policy by making it illegal for a person to bring a telecommunication device (including cellphones, laptops and handheld radios) into any state or local prison or jail without permission. A violation of this law would carry a penalty of up to three years in prison and the …
Posted: May 3, 2018 by South Carolina Policy Council
General Assembly to Censor Video Games and Movies?
Lawmakers often wait until the closing weeks of session to drop their most controversial bills. This year was no exception, with H.5218 and H.5219 aiming to censor gun violence in digital entertainment. The former would make it illegal to sell video games depicting gun violence, and the latter would prohibit theaters or other streaming services …
Posted: June 29, 2017 by South Carolina Policy Council
Mobile Barber Shops? Good Idea, But Never Mind.
WHY NOT JUST DEREGULATE? Ronald Reagan used to tell a joke that went like this: “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” Members of the South Carolina House have taken the …
Posted: May 22, 2017 by South Carolina Policy Council
More ‘Official’ Time-Wasters
WHY MUST THE STATE DECIDE THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO DRAW A TREE? South Carolina faces many problems. The fact that graphic designs of palmetto trees aren’t standardized is not one of them. Nonetheless, H.4201 – co-sponsored by Reps. Martin, Pope, Delleney, and Huggins – addresses this non-problem. The bill would task the director of …