The Senate and House of Representatives met in regular session this week spending long hours on the floor. The House debated and passed H3927, the diversity, equity and inclusion bill; while the Senate debated and approved its version of H3309, the South Carolina Energy Security Act.
The House will meet in regular session next week, while the Senate will not meet in session to give time for the Senate Finance Committee to debate the budget. There are five weeks left until adjournment on May 8 in the regular session of the General Assembly.
Military Tax Increment Financing bill continues to move
S190 was given third and final reading in the Senate on Tuesday. S190 includes affordable housing as an allowable project in a military tax increment financing district, extends the bonding period for projects in a military TIF, and gives local governing bodies greater flexibility when using TIF funds outside of the TIF boundary. Next, the bill goes to the House for debate.
On Wednesday, the full House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee gave H3333, the House version of the Military TIF bill, a favorable report. Next the bill goes to the full House for debate.
For questions about the bill, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
Stay in Touch
The Municipal Association legislative team is on X. Follow 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 Education and Public Works Committee
H3801 – Exemptions from the state procurement code – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Adds planning for repairs to bridges, highways, roads and other improvements on the state's rights of way to the list of exemptions from the state procurement code.
H3768 – utility relocation – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Extends the sunset date for utility relocation requirements in highway construction projects until July 1, 2031.
House Ways and Means Sales and Use and Income Tax subcommittee
H4216 – income tax reduction – favorable report. Later in the week, the full House Ways and Means Committee adjourned debate on the bill to do more research on potential amendments.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Reduces the income tax rates for a flat 3.99% and sets standards for further reductions in the tax.
House Judiciary Committee
S126 – Law enforcement personal privacy protection – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to the availability of law enforcement officers' personal information to the public.
H3285 – Law enforcement training in autism spectrum disorder – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires law enforcement officers to complete continuing law enforcement education credits in autism spectrum disorder.
H3930 – Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits a governmental entity from knowingly keeping a record of privately owned firearms or their owners.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
S2 – Establishes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – the committee adopted the subcommittee amendment but then adjourned debate on the bill. Later in the week, the committee reconvened and gave the bill a favorable report.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
House Judiciary Committee
H3857 – Alcohol delivery and curbside pickup – the committee did not take action on the bill, although it was on the agenda.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the SC Department of Revenue to issue a license or permit allowing a retailer to offer curbside delivery or pickup through a curbside service of beer or wine.
H4001 – Liquor sales on Sundays – the committee did not take action on the bill, although it was on the agenda.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows certain local governments to authorize the sale of alcoholic liquors on Sundays.
H4000 – Alcohol licensing for performing arts and convention complexes – the committee did not take action on the bill, although it was on the agenda.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Adds performing arts and convention complexes owned by a municipality to the law that allows on-premises consumption of beer and wine.
House Ways and Means Committee
S291 – Continuing budget resolution – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Gives the continuing authority to pay the expenses of state government if the 2025-2026 fiscal year begins without a general appropriations bill.
H3841 – property tax designations – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the 4% property tax assessment ratio to continue at 4% after the owner dies.
H4134 – Extends the High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Authorizes the extension of the High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act until December 31, 2035.