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…
S.217 – Using local hospitality taxes to repair and mitigate flood damage
S.217 – would allow the revenue from local hospitality and accommodations taxes to be used by local governments in the repair and mitigation of flood or tidal damage. The funds…
S.76 – Extending a tax credit and exemption for energy efficient homes
S.76 would extend a tax credit and exemption for manufactured homes bought in South Carolina that reach energy efficiency standards. The credit and exemption are currently set to sunset this…
S.227, S.113, H.3168, H.3457 – Allowing certain municipalities to impose a property tax
S.227 (and identical bills S.113, H.3168 and H.3457) would allow the 60 municipalities in South Carolina that do not currently have a property tax to impose one. State law currently…
S.309 – Doubling the budget of the South Carolina Research Authority
S.309 would essentially double the budget of the SC Research Authority, a state-owned venture capital firm by doubling the cap on available tax credits for the “Industry Partnership Trust Fund”.…
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…
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…
S.5 – Gas tax bill revenue diverted to interstate widening program
S.5 would divert gas-tax-bill revenue away from road repair and into a new interstate widening fund. The fund – controlled by the S.C. Transportation Infrastructure Bank (STIB) – would be…
What’s coming in the 2019 legislative session
The recurring themes in the over 700 pieces of prefiled legislation this year are more spending, more legislative control, and eroding individual rights. Here is a broad overview of what…
S.1 – Stripping some of the Governor’s interim appointment power
S.1 would undercut the Governor’s power to make interim appointments when the legislature is not in session. If this bill becomes law, the Governor will not be able to make…
The Budget Process: A Quick Primer
The budget process spelled out in state law is a thorough, deliberate process, designed to inform citizens at every stage and to maximize their input into the spending of taxpayer…
What the Data Warehouse Could Mean for You
The new data warehouse – created by last year’s law and this year’s budget proviso – poses serious threats to the privacy of South Carolinians, especially if lawmakers override the…
What is Tax Conformity, and What Does It Mean for SC Taxpayers?
UPDATE 10/5/18: The Senate’s version of the tax conformity bill passed both houses this week and was signed by the Governor. Lawmakers left one major question unanswered when they…
Where does S.C. Stand on School District Consolidation?
Each year, the state spends millions on duplicative administrative positions that could be used in the classroom. Instead of overhauling South Carolina’s antiquated school district model, lawmakers have historically taken…
Fact Sheet: Lawmakers’ Data Warehouse for Individual Information
Download the PDF version here » Lawmakers created a statewide data tracking system via proviso in this year’s budget. The Governor vetoed it, but lawmakers could override the veto when they…
Major Takeaways from the Governor’s Vetoes
On July 5, the Governor vetoed 42 items and roughly $40 million from the state budget passed by lawmakers in the June special session. Most significantly, the governor vetoed the…
What’s in The Conference Committee’s Budget?
UPDATE: The conference budget passed the House (84-28) and the Senate (30-9) on Thursday, June 28. The budget goes to the Governor’s desk next for line-item vetoes. HERE’S WHAT IS…
Lawmakers Move $3.7 billion Off-Budget
The South Carolina budget process has been eventful this year: Overall spending has continued to climb; lawmakers have once again refused to follow the transparent budget process mandated by law;…
Lawmakers Propose Statewide Data Warehouse for Individual Information
• Data warehouse would track adults and children alike for “workforce development purposes” • Lawmakers and staff would have direct access to individual data • State government could gather data…
Update on the Gas Tax Revenue and the STIB
Last June, SCPC revealed in an analysis that revenue from the proposed gas tax hike (now law) was written with the intent to divert the new revenue from the fund…
The SC Energy Crisis: An Update
The energy crisis in South Carolina – triggered by SCE&G’s abandonment of the V.C. Summer nuclear construction project – has been in limbo for nearly a year. Despite months of…
What’s in the final House budget?
A few weeks ago, the House passed their first version of the state appropriations bill. After it was amended by the Senate, the budget returned to the House for another…
Bills update: What to watch, what passed, what didn’t
By the time the legislative session ended last Thursday, a number of significant bills had either passed or failed. However, due to the sine die resolution which scheduled two special sessions…
Is the Legislative Session Over? Not Exactly.
UPDATE: Lawmakers have cancelled the May special session and postponed all business (including consideration of the budget) until the June session (27-28). In theory, the 2018 legislative session ended last…
“Relief” Bill Leaves Ratepayers on the Hook for Nuclear Project
A bill – S.954 – targeting current and future utility rates has passed both the House and the Senate as slightly different versions, and is now in conference committee. Here…
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…
Takeaways from the Senate Budget
Earlier this month the Senate amended and passed the House budget, and the House is currently debating further amendments prior to sending the bill to conference committee. While the Senate…
Senate Passes Unconstitutional Bill in “Phantom Session”
Yesterday, a brand-new piece of legislation was filed, bypassed the committee process, and was scheduled for second reading on Friday – all in the span of two minutes. This is…
Crossover Update: Bills Unlikely to Pass this Year
At this point in the legislative session, one can predict with a certain degree of accuracy which bills will not become law this year. This is due to a legislative…
Creating the Department of Children’s Advocacy
UPDATE: The House passed this bill by a vote of 107 – 0 on 4/24/18 with one minor amendment. Upon the governor’s signature, this bill will become law. If the goal…