This week, the House is back from spring break, while the Senate resumes business as usual after passing its version of the budget last week.
A bill allowing the executive branch to manage and execute the sale of Santee Cooper is set for priority debate status on the Senate floor, which could begin as early as Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Senate’s Santee Cooper committee will meet Wednesday after the Senate adjourns. It’s also worth noting that the Senate voted to eliminate the joint Santee Cooper committee by striking its proviso from their version of the budget.kl
At least two concerning bills remain on the House calendar. H.3757 would create a massive data collecting system that tracks children from preschool through the workforce, and possibly beyond. H.4332 would expand the scope and use of economic development bonds, which are a category of general obligation debt that is backed by the taxpayers’ personal property. While these bills failed to pass the crossover deadline, lawmakers could still insert them as amendments in other bills.
Finally, both education omnibus bills (H.3759 & S.419) are on the agenda for the Senate Education Committee, which meets Wednesday.
House floor session
- H.735 – Abolishes the Clarendon County Board of Education, legislative delegations make four appointments to the board
- H.3661 – Modifies municipality boundaries, clarifies “contiguous”
- H.4332 – Allows economic development bonds to be issued for freight projects, which could be exempted from job creation requirements
- H.4256 – Regulating funeral homes, remaking the Board of Funeral Service
- H.4152 – Polymer waste from gasification is not considered solid waste to DHEC
- H.3319 – Felons who have served sentence must be informed of voting rights
- H.3322 – Overhauls sentencing guidelines
- H.3757 – Creates data collecting system that tracks children from preschool through the workforce (SCPC analysis)
- H.4335 – Regulations promulgated under the administrative procedures act expires after five years
Senate floor session
- S.678 – Allows executive branch to manage and execute sale of Santee Cooper
- S.298 – Ties General Fund revenues to higher education funding, creates “enterprise divisions” (SCPC analysis)
- S.283 – Allows for creation of mini-governments (“auxiliary divisions” – previously known as enterprise divisions) within public colleges and universities
- S.655 – Tax credits for Panthers’ football team (SCPC analysis)
- H.3274 – Local government cannot regulate cigarettes, alternative nicotine products
- S.640 – Creates “Judicial Criminal Information Technology Committee” and mandates faster court/police reporting
- S.15 – Requires half-credit of personal finance for high school students
- H.3137 – Altering the local government fund (SCPC analysis)
- H.3659 – States that utility customers are entitled to certain renewable options, creates a new net metering program (customer-based solar generation), and requires utilities to incorporate small renewable power companies into their rate-making proceedings
- S.506 – Allows legislative delegations to suspend housing authority board, trigger investigation
- S.394 – Prevents regulation of plastic bags by local government
Tuesday
House committee meetings
Motor Vehicles subcommittee
- H.3050 – DMV collects property taxes while person is registering vehicle, remits funds to county
- H.3695 – Classifies motorcycles as private passenger motor vehicles “for the sole purpose of determining high mileage tax deductions”
Transportation subcommittee
- S.401 – Entity undertaking transportation improvement project must bear costs of relocating water and sewer
- H.4383 – Additional fine if driver is holding cell phone during traffic violation, revenue goes to Dept. of Public Safety to fund distracted driving campaign
- H.3397 – School buses must be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs subcommittee
- S.277 – Regulation for speech language pathologists
Senate committee meetings
Transportation subcommittee
- H.3174 – Subjects electric bicycles to same regulation as regular bicycles
- H.4380 – Ridesharing vehicles must display illuminated sign with company’s logo, in addition to other existing requirements
Judiciary Committee
- H.3035 – Loosens requirements for poll workers
- H.3029 – Requires political parties’ executive committees to hear certain complaints
- H.3601 – More leniency for first-time offenders of disorderly conduct
- 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
- S.110 – Uses a new ratepayer charge, backed by the state, to refinance SCANA’s share of V.C. Summer debt
- H.4262 – Small wireless cell infrastructure cannot be zoned out by local governments, wireless companies must have equal access to rights-of-way
- S.697 – Santee Cooper cannot be sold the governor or managed by a third party without advice and consent of the General Assembly
Education Committee
- S.419 – K-12 education omnibus bill. Creates Zero to Twenty Committee, criteria for school district consolidation, more requirements for reading coaches
Wednesday
House committee meetings
Higher Education subcommittee
- H.3197 – Licensing for student loan servicers, creates student loan ombudsman
- H.4404 – Military members with relevant experience get expedited accreditation as nurses
- H.4076 – Requiring public officials to sign documents stating their entity’s duties
- H.3099 – Creating open discussion places on college campuses
K-12 subcommittee
- H.4403 – School districts must adhere to bullying requirements promulgated by State Board of Education, broadens definition of bullying to include interfering with student’s educational performance
- H.3199 – High schools must offer course that includes information on college loans, payment obligations, etc.
- H.3257 – Ninth grade students must complete course on mental health and wellness
- H.3095 – School must not start before August 15, schools can vary this date by five days as needed to ensure 90 school days before winter break
- H.3258 – Schools must employ one mental health counselor per 200 students
- H.3198 – Students must attend school until age 18 or graduation
- H.3794 – When enrolling their children, schools must provide parents with a “Pledge of Parental Expectations” that parents may choose to sign
Senate committee meetings
Medical Affairs subcommittee
- H.3157 – Regulates genetic counselors, establishes board of genetic counselor examiners
- H.3602 – Person with relationship with patient can make healthcare decisions on their behalf
- H.3725 – Creates advisory council for certain pediatric conditions
- H.3821 – Expands power of advanced practice registered nurses
- H.4004 – Adds a new end-of-life healthcare instruction form
Agriculture subcommittee
- H.4245 – Unlawful to advertise lab-grown protein as meat
Education Committee
- S.419 – K-12 education omnibus bill. Creates Zero to Twenty Committee, criteria for school district consolidation, more requirements for reading coaches
- H.3759 – K-12 education omnibus bill. Creates new education committee, criteria for school district consolidation, more requirements for reading coaches
Transportation Committee
- H.4380 – Ridesharing vehicles must display illuminated sign with company’s logo, in addition to other existing requirements
- H.3174 – Subjects electric bicycles to same regulation as regular bicycles
Select Committee on Santee Cooper (livestream here)
Thursday
House committee meetings
Education & Public Works Committee
- S.401 – Entity undertaking transportation improvement project must bear costs of relocating water and sewer
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs subcommittee
- H.4352 – Unlawful to sell energy drinks to minors
Senate committee meetings
Medical Affairs Committee
- S.366 – Legalizes medical cannabis
- H.3157 – Regulates genetic counselors, establishes board of genetic counselor examiners
- H.3602 – Person with relationship with patient can make healthcare decisions on their behalf
- H.3725 – Creates advisory council for certain pediatric conditions
- H.3821 – Expands power of advanced practice registered nurses
- H.4004 – Adds a new end-of-life healthcare instruction form
Agriculture Committee
- H.4245 – Unlawful to advertise lab-grown protein as meat
Education Committee
- S.650 – Financial incentives for higher education providers to train and graduate high school dropouts with a “workforce diploma”
