The Senate and House of Representatives met in regular session this week. The Senate Finance Committee heard a revenue update from the director of the SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, while the House debated bills on the calendar. There are six weeks left until adjournment on May 8 in the regular session of the General Assembly. The Senate set H3309, the electric utility bill, for special order on its calendar.
Both the House and Senate will meet in session next week as usual.
Liquor liability legislation update
Senators amended and gave third and final reading to S244, their version of tort reform and liquor liability insurance reform, this week. Senators adopted an amendment to S244 that deals with automobile insurance and alcohol server training, among other issues, related to liquor liability. Further amendments were approved by the Senate that deal with joint and several liability. Next, this bill will go to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.
H3497, the House version of the solution to the difficulties that businesses have experienced with liquor liability insurance, remains on the Senate contested calendar. H3497 expands liquor liability insurance options, mandates alcohol server training, strengthens enforcement and ends joint and several liability, among other points of interest.
For questions about the liquor liability bill, contact Daina Riley Phillips (dphillips@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203.
Military Tax Increment Financing bill moving in both chambers
S190 was given second reading in the Senate on Thursday. S190 includes affordable housing as allowable projects 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.
On Wednesday, the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Military and Veterans Affairs subcommittee gave H3333, the House version of the Military TIF bill, a favorable report. Next the bill goes to the full House 3M Committee.
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 Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Medical and Health Affairs subcommittee
S2 – Establishes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – favorable report as amended. The amendment clarifies supervisory titles and requires a submission of an annual report to the governor and the General Assembly.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
House Ways and Means General Government subcommittee
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.
House Judiciary Committee
H3525 – Crime Victims' services and compensation – favorable report as amended. The amendment makes technical changes to the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Changes a reference from the Department of Crime Victim Assistance Grants to the Department of Crime Victim Compensation.
H3731 – special purpose district property – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Removes a sunset provision concerning the authority of special purpose districts to own, dispose, acquire, purchase, hold, use, lease, convey, sell, transfer or dispose of property.
Senate Judiciary Committee
H3309 – Enacts the SC Energy Security Act – favorable report as amended. The committee adopted the subcommittee amendment to change language back to the previous year's energy bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The full committee also adopted several amendments dealing with small modular reactors and the feasibility of using domestic wood products to general electricity.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to the state's energy policy through the Public Service Commission and the regulation of utilities.
S446 – Enacts the Electric Rate Stabilization Act – favorable report as amended by the subcommittee to allow public input for a utility rate increase.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allow electric utilities to request the Public Service Commission to adjust utility rates annually, establish the baseline rate order and requirements for adjustments in rates.
Senate Transportation subcommittee
S387 – defines medium-speed vehicles – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Defines a medium-speed vehicle, and outlines where the vehicle can be operated and by whom.
H3292 – golf cart operation – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows counties and municipalities to enact ordinances to allow golf carts to operate in designated areas at night.
House Ways and Means Licenses, Fees and Other Taxes subcommittee
H3188 – firefighter training costs – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Outlines procedures through which a fire department that assumes the cost of training a firefighter may be reimbursed for these costs by other fire departments that subsequently hire the firefighter.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S288 – transfer of development rights – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a local governing body to provide, by ordinance, for the voluntary transfer of the developmental rights permitted on one parcel of land to another parcel of land that restricts or prohibits further development of the sending property and increases the density of development of the receiving property.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Business and Commerce subcommittee
H3163 – Occupational diseases compensable under workers' compensation – favorable report as amended. The amendment removes "on-duty" language and added instances in which these provisions would apply.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Includes a stroke in the list of occupational diseases compensable under workers' compensation in the course of employment for firefighters.