The SC General Assembly did not meet in regular session on the floor this week, but instead held subcommittee and committee meetings when the winter weather allowed. As the week went on, many of those meetings were canceled because of road conditions. Municipal elections were discussed in a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday afternoon. The House and Senate plan to meet in regular session next week.   

Senate Judiciary subcommittee meets on municipal election bills 
A Senate Judiciary subcommittee met on Tuesday afternoon to hear testimony on several bills related to polling locations, special elections and municipal elections. The subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Chip Campsen (R-Charleston), passed one bill but carried over others to work on amendments.   

The subcommittee gave a favorable report as amended to S38, a bill outlining dates for special elections. The amendments remove some unnecessary language from the bill and add language from S123 that deals with reopening filing for an office upon a candidate’s death or withdrawal. Subcommittee members carried over S36, a polling location bill; and S37, a municipal election bill that requires certain dates for city elections. Erica Wright, the Association’s legislative and public policy advocate, testified on S37 and provided amendments to the subcommittee to further change the bill.   

For questions about the election bills, contact Erica (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.  

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