Skip to main content

Voices. Knowledge. Solutions.

February 10, 2023

House and Senate members met in regular session this week. Senators debated an abortion bill, while House members spent the week debating a restriction on teaching critical race theory in public schools. 

Tobacco flavoring bill out of subcommittee 
A Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee approved S414 on Wednesday. S414 is a bill that would prohibit municipalities from enacting ordinances that restrict ingredients of cigarettes and flavoring of electronic smoking devices. Included in the bill is language that affirms a municipality’s ability to zone and permit establishments that sell these products. Any municipality that enacted an ordinance regulating tobacco flavor before December 31, 2020, would be grandfathered in this bill.  

Next, the bill goes to the full Senate Medical Affairs Committee for debate. For information on this bill, contact Scott Slatton (sslatton@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203. 

Stay in Touch 
The Municipal Association legislative team is on Twitter. Follow Scott Slatton (@ScottMuniSC), Joannie Nickel (@JoannieMuniSC) and Erica Wright (@EricaMuniSC) for updates from the State House. Also follow the Association at @MuniAssnSC.  

From the Dome to your Home podcast 
The Municipal Association has launched another podcast, dedicated only to legislative information. The From the Dome to Your Home podcast offers more guests, more insight and more legislative information all year round. Enjoy both City Quick Connect for municipal information and project highlights and From the Dome to Your Home for everything legislative.  

From the Dome to Your Home Podcast

Committee Report

House Judiciary Criminal Laws subcommittee   
H3532 – Creates sentencing enhancements for persons who commit certain additional crimes while on pretrial release on bond – favorable report as amended. The amendment rewrites a full section of the bill and adds language regarding electronic monitoring. 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Creates sentencing enhancements for persons who commit certain additional crimes while on pretrial release on bond. This bill also prohibits pretrial release on bond for a person charged with certain crimes. 

 

Senate Judiciary subcommittee 
S367 – Requires an appearance bond to convert to a personal recognizance bond after 18 months for a municipal court offense – carried over 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires an appearance bond to automatically convert to a personal recognizance bond after 18 months for a municipal court offense. 
S368 – Changes the procedure for issuing bond for subsequent violent offenses – carried over 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the court to consider whether a person is currently out on bond for a prior offense when setting bond. 

 

House Judiciary General Laws subcommittee 
H3594 – Enacts the SC Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2023 – favorable report as amended. The amendment addresses unlawful possession of a firearm. 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows anyone to carry a handgun, whether concealed or not, without a permit. 

 

Senate Fish, Game and Forestry subcommittee 
S282 – Places the Beach Restoration and Improvement Trust Fund under the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism – favorable report 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Places the Beach Restoration and Improvement Trust Fund under the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to monitor erosion rates and beach profiles. 

 

House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee 
H3591 – Repeals a section of the state constitution that prohibits the state or its political subdivisions from providing direct aid to certain institutions – favorable report 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Repeals a section of the state constitution that prohibits the state or its political subdivisions from providing direct aid to religious or other private educational institutions. 
H3686 – Provides a framework where antisemitism is considered regarding all laws prohibiting discriminatory acts – favorable report as amended. The amendment only makes technical changes to the definition of antisemitism. 
Summary of the bill as introduced: Provides a framework where antisemitism is considered regarding all laws prohibiting discriminatory acts and educates state personnel and officials on antisemitism. 
H3327 – Limits the time period that a circuit court must make a final ruling on an action to enforce the SC Freedom of Information Act – the subcommittee met, but didn’t take action on the bill.  
Summary of the bill as introduced: Limits the time period to one year after filing that a circuit court must make a final ruling on an action to enforce the SC Freedom of Information Act.