The Senate and House met in regular session this week. House members debated and approved an expansion of school vouchers, while Senators debated legislation on the calendar.
The deadline for bills to pass out of the originating body, or the crossover deadline, is Wednesday, April 10. The last day of the regular session is Thursday, May 9. This is the second year of a two-year session, so any bills that do not pass are dead and must be reintroduced for the 2025 – 2026 session.
Senate subcommittee approves military TIF bill
The Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Labor and Employment subcommittee amended and gave a favorable report to H4552, the military tax increment financing district bill. This bill amends current law to include affordable housing developments as allowable projects in a military TIF district. It also includes language that expands where TIF dollars can be spent and extends the bonding period from 15 years to 30 years. The subcommittee amended the bill to change the effective date to July 1. Next, the bill will go to the full Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee on Wednesday, March 27 for consideration.
For information on this bill, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
Property Tax Exemption bill passes the Senate
S1017, the bill makes changes to a bill passed in 2020 that had unintended consequences to property tax revenue for cities, counties and school districts, passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill limits the available property tax exemption for nonprofit housing corporations to the percentage that equals the corporation's or nonprofit’s ownership interest in the property. This bill also prohibits annexation of agricultural property by a municipality without express written agreement by the owner. Next, the bill goes to the House Ways and Means Committee for debate.
For questions about this bill, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
Abandoned Buildings Tax credit bill passes the Senate
S1021, the bill that extends the SC Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act tax credit to 2035 and increases the maximum earned tax credit to $700,000, was given third reading by the Senate on Wednesday. Next, the bill goes to the House Ways and Means Committee for debate.
For questions about this bill, contact Joannie Nickel (jnickel@masc.sc) at 803.354.4794.
New Bill Introductions
Each week, House and Senate members introduce new bills that are referred to a committee to begin the legislative process. Bills that have an effect on municipal government are tracked by the Municipal Association legislative team in the legislative tracking system.
For questions about the new bill introductions, contact Casey Fields (cfields@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.
Don’t forget to listen to the From the Dome to Your Home podcast every Friday for a recap of the week’s legislative issues and a look to the week ahead at the State House.
House Ways and Means Property Tax subcommittee
H4912 – Allows certain civilian employees of the U.S. Department of Defense to continue to claim the special 4% assessment ratio – favorable report. Later in the week the full House Ways and Means Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended. The amendments change the way the state assesses commercial aircraft and prohibits counties from asking for a tax return to prove 4% residency.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows certain civilian employees of the U.S. Department of Defense to continue to claim the special 4% assessment ratio on property when the civilian receives orders for a change of station.
H4294 – Allows the governing body of a rural county to suspend the millage cap limitation to support a fire protection district – favorable report as amended. The amendment calculates population by the previous census and places a 2% cap on the overall fire district's budget. Later in the week, the full House Ways and Means Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended by the subcommittee.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the governing body of a rural county to suspend the millage cap limitation to support a fire protection district.
House Ways and Means Sales and use Tax and Income Tax subcommittee
H4059 – Allows revenues of a sales tax for transportation facilities to be used for additional projects – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows revenues of a sales tax for transportation facilities to be used for additional projects.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
H4609 – Allows certain municipalities to allow golf carts to operate at night – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows certain municipalities and counties to enact ordinances allowing golf carts to operate in a designated area within the jurisdictions at night.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Public Utilities subcommittee
H5118 – Enacts the South Carolina Ten-Year Energy Transformation Act – favorable report as amended. The amendment allows the Public Service Commission to assign a third party administrator to a utility that does not comply with the bill's energy efficiency requirements for low-income residents. The amendment also changes the Canadys section to assert the Public Service Commission's authority to approve its development. Later in the week, the full House Labor, Commerce and Industry gave this bill a favorable report as amended by the subcommittee.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to current energy policy to promote the development of new and reliable energy infrastructure resources, fostering resilient and reliable energy infrastructure.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Medical and Health Affairs subcommittee
H4867 – Requires all 911 telecommunicators that provide dispatch for medical emergencies be trained in telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation – favorable report as amended. The amendments define T-CPR, requires continuing education to be completed annually and covers government entities under the State Tort Claims Act.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires all 911 telecommunicators that provide dispatch for medical emergencies be trained in T-CPR.
House Judiciary Committee
H4274 – Enacts the SC Public Expression Protection Act – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes a cause of action asserted in a civil action based on a person's communication.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee
H5016 – Directs the governor to appoint the state auditor with the advice and consent of the Senate – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Directs the governor to appoint the state auditor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S457 – Requires that a person or entity with condemnation powers hold a public meeting to disclose the likelihood of condemnation on surrounding properties – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires that a person or entity with condemnation powers hold a public meeting to disclose the likelihood of condemnation on surrounding properties when purchasing new real property or changing the use of real property.
S779 – Enacts the Energy Independence and Risk Reduction Act – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes numerous changes to the Public Service Commission and other electrical utility issues related to ratepayers and oversight.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S533 – Includes persons or entities for the purposes of allocation of fault in the SC Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act – carried over. The subcommittee met again later in the week and gave the bill a favorable report as amended. The amendment restores section F that was previously stricken.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Includes persons or entities for the purposes of allocation of fault in the SC Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act.
S1048 – Establishes the basis for liability for a person or establishment who illegally furnishes alcohol – carried over. The subcommittee met again later in the week and gave the bill a favorable report as amended. The amendment corrects a loophole that removed liability from establishments in certain circumstances and addresses proximate cause.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes the basis for liability for a person or establishment who illegally furnishes alcohol to an individual who injures a third party based on what the furnisher knew under the circumstances.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S87 – Increases the caps under the Tort Claim Act – favorable report as amended. The amendment makes the effective date July 1.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Increases the caps under the Tort Claims Act from $300,000 to $500,000 per person and from $600,000 to $1 million per occurrence.