Hometown Legislative Action Day - Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The $150 registration fee includes lunch, the reception and all meeting materials. Lunch is a ticketed event only available to meeting registrants. Due to limited seating, guests may not attend the luncheon. The preregistration deadline is January 26. On-site registration will be available for anyone who misses the preregistration deadline.
Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government - Wednesday, February 7, 2024
The $125 fee for Session A, Session B, the Advanced Institute and Advanced Continuing Education includes registration, educational materials and lunch for the registrant only.
See the MEO Institute brochure for more information on this training. Preregistration is required. The deadline is January 26.
Mobile App
Download the Municipal Association of SC app to connect with speakers and other attendees and receive meeting updates. Download the app from either the App Store or Google Play (Search term: Municipal Association of SC).
Hotel Information
The Marriott and Hyatt Place room blocks are sold out. We recommend checking with one of the following hotel.
- Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel (located next door to the Marriott on Main Street)
- Holiday Inn Columbia Downtown (located in the same block as the Marriott).
Parking Information
In recent years, finding parking at the Marriott in Columbia has become more difficult during the Municipal Association's Hometown Legislative Action Day. This year, the City of Columbia does not have available space for overflow parking in a central location near the hotel, which may result in a severe shortage of parking spaces in close proximity to the hotel. This situation was not foreseen when the Association signed the 2024 HLAD contract with the Marriott.
The Association has worked closely with the City of Columbia and explored available options. After thorough consideration, we have determined that the most viable solution to guarantee our members have a parking space is by providing an alternative offsite parking option. Members who do not have a hotel room at the Marriott can park their vehicles in the new parking garage next to Segra Park in the BullStreet District. The address for the parking garage is 1575 Freed St. This parking will be complimentary and the Association will provide a shuttle to carry attendees from the garage to the Marriott.
Alternatively, some attendees may wish to seek parking in one of the other downtown parking facilities listed on the map below, subject to availability and associated parking fees.
Plan to arrive early to allow extra time to get from the remote garage to the Marriott. A shuttle will run from the garage from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, the day of HLAD.
Before the meeting …
- Visit www.masc.sc to familiarize yourself with municipal legislative issues and download the Association’s Advocacy Handbook (keyword: advocacy handbook).
- Invite your legislators to the legislative reception on Tuesday, February 6, at the Columbia Marriott from 5:30 – 7 p.m.
- Plan to take your legislators to dinner following the reception. Find information about local restaurants online.
Tuesday, February 6
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration
9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Opening General Session
Senate Panel Discussion: Civility in Politics
2024 Economic Outlook
Laura Dawson Ullrich, Senior Regional Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte Branch
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. General Session - Legislative Report
12:15 – 1:45 p.m. Lunch
Graduation: Municipal Elected Officials Institute and Advanced Institute*
1:45 – 3:00 p.m. State House Visits
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. General Session
Act 57 – What You Need to Know to Bring More Affordable Housing to Your Community
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. General Session
2024 Political Outlook
Dr. Scott Huffmon, Professor and Director, Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research at Winthrop University
4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Break
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
Hot Topics
This fast-paced session will provide quick updates and guidance on a variety of issues important to cities and towns.
Mayors’ Forum
All mayors are invited to participate in the Mayors’ Forum, sponsored by the Association of SC Mayors
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Taste of South Carolina – Legislative Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner on your own with your legislators
* Officials who have completed all requirements for the Institute or the Advanced Institute and those who are scheduled to complete the requirements on Wednesday will be recognized.
Session A and Session B - Wednesday, February 7
The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government is a training program that provides municipal elected officials with a basic understanding of key areas of municipal government.
To graduate from the institute, officials must complete Session A, Session B and five online courses available anytime. These five courses are also held once a year at the five designated councils of governments’ locations. See the MEO Institute brochure for more details.
Before registering, refer to your MEO Institute transcript to determine which session to take. Session A must be taken before enrolling in Session B. Sessions A and B cannot be taken on the same day. Transcripts are available to officials by logging on to www.masc.sc (keyword: MEO) with your personal identification number and password. Municipal clerks have online access to transcripts for all elected officials from their municipality.
On February 7, check in at the Municipal Association’s registration desk at the Marriott beginning at 8 a.m. to pick up meeting materials. Sessions A and B begin promptly at 9 a.m. Officials must attend the entire day of training (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) to receive credit. Sign-in sheets are kept throughout the day. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided. (For registrants only.)
Advanced Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government - Wednesday, February 7
The advanced program provides elected officials who are graduates of the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government an option for continuing education. Graduates can choose to attend one of two courses offered annually on the day after Hometown Legislative Action Day and one of two courses offered each fall. To graduate from the Advanced Institute, officials must complete at least four courses.
Advanced courses will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Attendance for the entire day of training is required to receive credit. Sign-in sheets are kept throughout the day. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided. (For registrants only.)
Advanced Courses (Choose one)
- Advanced Budgeting and Finance
- Advanced Leadership and Governance
Advanced Continuing Education - Wednesday, February 7
The Advanced Continuing Education track provides the Association’s top level of graduates with a pathway to stay current on the latest issues in local government. These courses focus on current topics and will be available exclusively to Advanced MEO Institute graduates.
The Advanced Continuing Education session is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided. (For registrants only.)
- ACE Courses
9 a.m. – noon Property Tax Millage: How to Avoid Financial Trouble
1 – 4 p.m. Strategies for Affordable Housing and Water in Your Community