The South Carolina Policy Council Archive

S.142 would require that any year’s General Fund Revenues not spent in general or supplemental appropriations be credited to the State Highway Fund. Currently these funds (when they exist) are…

Firearms made in SC are Exempt from Federal Regulations S.117 asserts that firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition that are manufactured and remain solely in South Carolina are beyond the authority…

Nullifying Unlawful Detainment under the National Defense Authorization Act S.114 is similar to last session’s S.92. Like last session’s bill S.114 asserts state sovereignty by prohibiting state agents from assisting…

S. 134 – Incentive Transparency This bill would be a significant step toward ending the state’s secret incentives dealings. In line with a series of reforms recommended by the Policy…

S. 123 – Shorten session and implement Biennial budget This bill would shorten the legislative session so that in even-numbered years the General Assembly would adjourn the second Thursday in…

S. 111 and S. 112 – Governor appoints judges with advice and consent of Senate In 2012 the Policy Council launched an 8-point reform agenda aimed at making South Carolina…

S.1, S.14, S.74, S.202, and H.3184 are all omnibus ethics bills that contain some of the negative provisions from last session’s failed horrendous omnibus “ethics” bill. Several of the negative…

Regulating the Online Sale of Hearing Aids S.167 is a reintroduction of last sessions S.1056 which stalled in the house Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committee. S.167 effectively prevents…

Companion bills S.155 and H.3678 are near identical to last session’s S.901, which never made it out of committee. Each bill would gradually eliminate South Carolina’s individual income tax over a five-year period by reducing…

Eliminating CWP Fees S.109 is a reintroduction of last session’s S.1045. Both bills eliminate the $50 fee that must be paid in order to receive a concealed weapons permit, and…

 Occupational License Fees must be approved by the Legislature S.107 would prohibit executive boards from unilaterally imposing occupational licensing fees. Instead occupational licensing fees would be recommend by the appropriate…

The Capital Reserve Fund (CRF) is a special fund which is funded at a rate of 2 percent of the previous year’s General Fund Revenue and is intended in theory…

Constitutional Carry  S.105 is a reintroduction of last session’s S.115. The bill if passed would turn South Carolina into the 7th state to enact constitutional carry. As we summarized last…

Prohibiting Local Governments from Enforcing Firearm Regulations S.36 is identical to last sessions S.885, the bills would bar any political subdivisions of the state from enforcing regulations related to transfers, ownership, possession,…

S.27 would reduce the tax rate for all state income tax brackets by 2 percent over 10 years in exchange for an increase in the gas tax from 16 to 36…

No Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones S.90 would prohibit law enforcement from searching the contents of an individual’s cell phone without a warrant or the express consent of the owner.…

CWPs don’t expire during Renewal S.91 would insert a new provision into state law stating a concealed weapons permit (CWP) remains valid while there is an application for renewal until the…

No Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones S.90 would prohibit law enforcement from searching the contents of an individual’s cell phone without a warrant or the express consent of the owner.…

No New Fees without Legislative Approval S.62 would prohibit state agencies from imposing any new fines or fees or increasing existing fines and fees by regulation or administrative action i.e. without…

S.23 would alter state law to impose a 16 cent per gallon tax on liquefied natural gas. This is an attempt to raise additional funds for transportation in South Carolina. As…

 Allowing Licensed Pharmacies in Select Countries to Distribute and Sell Prescription Drugs in South Carolina S.102 would permit pharmacies licensed in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand…

Making the Secretary of State Appointed S.70 proposes an amendment to make the Secretary of State appointed by the Governor and not elected by the general population. As an executive…

Making the Commissioner of Agriculture Appointed S.63 proposes an amendment to turn yet another elected position in the executive branch, the  Commissioner of Agriculture, into an office that is appointed…

S.68 proposes an amendment to the state constitution to make the Superintendent of Education appointed by the Governor rather than an elected office.  The Department of Education is an executive…

Making the Comptroller General Appointed S.59 proposes an amendment to the state constitution which would make future comptroller general’s appointed rather than elected. Frankly, the Comptroller General is an office…

S.11 amends the state code to require that public bodies must post an agenda at their meeting place at least twenty four hours prior to meeting. A new provision would…

As amended by the Judiciary Committee S.10 would alter existing law to make state that with some exceptions cause of death reports resulting from the performance of an autopsy by a coroner…

Raising the Minimum Wage  S.144 proposes an amendment to the state constitution which would upon passage make the state minimum wage one dollar higher than the federal minimum wage. Every…

A Sunset Law for Regulations  S.93 would delete state code language requiring agencies to review regulations every five years and would instead stipulate that all regulations expire five years after…

. . . AND KILLS A TERRIBLE ONE During the first day of organizational session on December 2, the House voted on and approved a package of 15 rule changes…