What's New

The General Assembly met for their last week of this year’s legislative session. Legislators spent most of the week working through their respective calendars and trying to pass out bills before the Thursday sine die deadline.

Conferees were named to the conference committee on H. 3701, the General Appropriations bill. They include Senators Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington), Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) and Representatives Brian White (R-Anderson), Mike Pitts (R-Laurens), and Bill Clyburn (D-Aiken). Conferees will be responsible for coming to agreement on differing provisions in the House and Senate budgets.

The Senate spent most of the time with Senator Tom Davis filibustering H. 3702, the Capital Reserve Fund bill, without being able to pass the bill nor debate a bill related to road funding.

Additionally, the Senate debated and gave third reading to H. 3525, a bill that is intended to make it easier to operate Uber in South Carolina. Since the two bodies could not agree on amendments, a conference committee has been established to negotiate differences.

The House Ways and Means Committee met Monday afternoon and gave a favorable as amended report to H. 4230, the Supplemental Appropriations bill. This bill appropriates funding for additional projects since the State projects have additional revenue this year.

The House spent considerable time debating amendments to H. 3114, Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. All amendments were eventually tabled.

The Senate and House adjourned at 5:00 on Thursday pursuant to the provisions of H. 4272, the Sine Die Resolution. They will convene at noon on June 16th for limited business.

In other news, the Joint Bond Review Committee met on Wednesday and voted unanimously to approve the Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt’s request for $123 million in Economic Development bonding to meet the State’s incentive commitment to Volvo. There was a great deal of discussion about the Legislature appropriating $70 million to pay down the amount needed to be bonded. After approving the $123 million request, the Committee voted 7 to 3 to adopt a separate motion to request the Governor to send a letter supporting appropriating the $70 million to help pay for the Volvo project and thereby save taxpayers money.

Top News Articles

Gasoline prices rise 12.2 cents/gallon in S.C. in May; state no longer lowest in nation
Gasoline prices jumped 12.2 cents over the past month in South Carolina to $2.44 a gallon, according to fuel price gauger GasBuddy. Read more.

Bill to settle SC-NC border in limbo in S.C. House
A bill 20 years in the making that would clarify the 333-mile border between South Carolina and North Carolina has run into a roadblock in the House Judiciary Committee. Read more.

S.C. Transportation secretary resigns
Janet Oakley resigned Monday as secretary of the S.C. Department of Transportation, a little more than a year after taking the $156,200-a-year job. Read more.

House budget panel looks at $220M more for roads
House lawmakers approved a bill that would spend $220 million more in surplus money for roads, with $150 million of that going to county transportation committees to fund work on state secondary roads. Read more.

Panel approves borrowing $123 million for Volvo
Republican Gov. Nikki Haley won approval from 10 S.C. lawmakers Wednesday to borrow up to $123 million to pay for incentives for Volvo. Read more.

The twists and turns of steering Volvo toward S.C.
State Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt received a tip in July that South Carolina was among a handful of Southeastern states in the running for Volvo’s first North American manufacturing facility. Read more.

Haley: New domestic violence law 1st culture-changing step
South Carolina's new domestic violence law marks a first step in changing a culture that has quietly ignored abuse, Gov. Nikki Haley said Thursday, just before she signed the bill. Read more.

Filibuster keeps Senate at a standstill in waning days of session
The Senate failed to advance major legislation on Wednesday as Beaufort Republican Sen. Tom Davis continued to filibuster the capital reserve bill, which determines what the state will do with its rainy day fund. Read more.

Bill requiring agendas at meetings sent to governor's desk
A bill requiring government bodies to publish agendas before public meetings is on its way to Gov. Nikki Haley's desk. Read more.

Two companies submit proposals for automated transit network in Greenville
A panel of Greenville area officials and development executives has accepted proposals to develop a privately financed, automated transit network that would be the first of its kind in South Carolina. They agreed Tuesday to first determine if each proposal includes a 100% private financing commitment. Read more.

Signing ushers in stiffer penalties, gun ban for domestic violence crimes
South Carolina on Thursday took a step toward better protecting victims and punishing batterers after more than a decade as one of the deadliest states for women at the hands of men. Read more.

South Carolina's 'disappointing' legislative session ends
South Carolina's legislative session drew to a close Thursday without a state budget and with most of lawmakers' priority issues left undone. Read more.

South Carolina’s Uber bill gets kicked down the road
The state House voted down changes Thursday that the Senate made to a bill that would regulate Uber and other ride-hailing services in South Carolina. Read more.

With much left undone, SC legislators to return June 16
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again could be the slogan of the 2015 South Carolina Legislature. Read more.

Body camera bill on its way to South Carolina governor
A bill giving guidelines for police body cameras in South Carolina was sent to the governor's desk Thursday, two months after officials were stunned into action by the shooting of an unarmed driver as he ran from a North Charleston police officer. Read more.

SC Senate approves Catherine Heigel as new DHEC director
The South Carolina Senate has unanimously appointed a Greenville attorney and former Duke Energy executive to run the state's health and environmental agency. Read more.

White House says Medicaid expansion in South Carolina would save lives
Medicaid expansion under Obamacare would save nearly 200 lives in South Carolina each year, a new White House report claims.Read more.

Newly Introduced Legislation

ENVIRONMENTAL/NATURAL RESOURCES:
S. 874 Campbell: RELATING TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

HEALTHCARE:
S. 845 Lourie: SO AS TO ENACT THE "FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY HEALTH CARE PROGRAM ACT"

TAX/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
S. 862 Rankin: RELATING TO THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX
H. 4304 Bowers: SO AS TO IMPOSE A UNIFORM STATEWIDE AD VALOREM TAX TO REPLACE ANY OTHER AD VALOREM TAX IMPOSED FOR SCHOOL OPERATING PURPOSES
H. 4305 Bowers: SO AS TO IMPOSE A UNIFORM STATEWIDE AD VALOREM TAX ON PERSONAL MOTOR VEHICLES TO REPLACE ANY OTHER AD VALOREM TAX IMPOSED ON PERSONAL MOTOR VEHICLES FOR SCHOOL OPERATING PURPOSES
H. 4309 Bowers: RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FOUR PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO