The first half of the 125th South Carolina General Assembly was gaveled to a close on Thursday, May 12. This is the first year of a two-year session meaning that bills that did not pass this session are still active for the 2024 session.
Unlike sessions of the past, House and Senate members did not pass an adjournment, or sine die, resolution that governs when legislators would return to finalize the budget, conference committee reports or other important legislation. Without the adjournment resolution, legislators can work on any legislation that is pending when they return to Columbia. Gov. Henry McMaster called legislators back in to session to continue to specifically work on abortion legislation.
Social issues took center stage
Leadership changes in the House brought new faces at the helm of committees and new priorities for the Democrat and Republican caucuses in both chambers and the Freedom Caucus in the House — a group that describes itself as the most conservative members of the chamber.
In addition to the state budget, social issues emerged as a focal point of debate, sometimes leading to heated exchanges among legislators. The House and the Senate debated multiple versions of abortion legislation several times. They also debated school choice bills, along with the permitless carrying of guns.
While Municipal Association of SC legislative staff worked on the state budget and bills related to the Association’s Advocacy Initiatives, there were other bills related to affordable housing, bond reform, and tobacco flavoring that Association staff worked on throughout the session.
Several Advocacy Initiatives progress
Municipal officials adopted a comprehensive list of challenges facing cities and towns. The 2023 – 2024 Advocacy Initiatives represent solutions to those challenges through legislative action. While some saw action during the last six months and became a priority, others will take work during the months when House and Senate members are not in session. Here is an overview of those initiatives that received action.
Advocacy Initiative: Protect the authority of cities and towns to regulate short-term rentals within municipal boundaries.
Status: H3253 would prohibit cities and towns from banning and regulating short-term rentals. The bill was introduced and received two subcommittee hearings toward the end of the legislative session. The subcommittee did not take action on the bill and it remains active for the 2024 session.
Several attempts to pre-empt local regulation of short-term rentals through budget provisos were also opposed.
Advocacy Initiative: Support traffic safety measures including a ban on "squat trucks" and other local safety ordinances.
Status: S363 prohibits motor vehicle modifications that result in a motor vehicle's front fender being raised 4 or more inches above the height of the rear fender. S363 was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed into law by the governor.
Advocacy Initiative: Support statewide hate crimes legislation.
Status: H3014, the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act, was introduced and passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate Judiciary Committee also approved this bill and sent the bill to the floor. At adjournment, three senators were objecting to the bill thereby preventing debate.
Advocacy Initiative: Allow cities and towns under a certain revenue threshold to complete a compilation of financial statements instead of a full audit.
Status: S31, the bill that allows cities and towns with less than $500,000 in total revenues the option of providing a compilation of financial statements instead of a full audit, was passed by the House and Senate. Gov. McMaster vetoed the bill, and the Senate voted to override the veto. At press time, the bill awaited an override vote in the House.
Advocacy Initiative: Support stronger penalties for illegal fentanyl trafficking and possession.
Status: H3503 is the bill that creates a criminal offense for trafficking fentanyl and was passed by the House of Representatives and is on the Senate calendar for debate. The Senate passed S153, a similar bill related to fentanyl trafficking. That bill remains in the House Judiciary Committee.
Find out more about the legislative session at the Municipal Association’s Annual Meeting, taking place in Greenville on July 27 – 30. Also, look for a more detailed overview of the legislative session in the 2023 annual legislative report, which will be available at the Annual Meeting in July and online.
Check out the list of dates and locations for the Municipal Association’s upcoming Regional Advocacy Meetings.
This article was written at the end of the regular session and is accurate as of May 12, 2023.