The House and Senate met in regular session this week spending time working through bills on the calendars before adjournment next week. Three legislative days are left in the regular session of the 2024 General Assembly.
General Assembly adjournment
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 into law will be dead and must be reintroduced for the 2025 – 2026 session.
Both chambers passed S1192, the sine die, or adjournment, resolution. This resolution outlines the legislation that the General Assembly can consider when the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House bring members back to Columbia after the May 9 adjournment to finish the budget.
Abandoned buildings on the House calendar
The House of Representatives adjourned debate on S1021, the abandoned buildings revitalization tax credit bill. The bill was amended in committee to add language from H3737, the Shortline Railroad Modernization Act. The original language from S1021 is still in the bill. The bill remains on the House calendar for debate next week.
For questions about this bill, contact Joannie Nickel (jnickel@masc.sc) at 803.354.4794.
Property tax exemption bill on the House contested calendar
The House of Representatives placed S1017, the affordable housing property tax exemption bill, on the contested calendar on Thursday. The bill qualifies projects that set lower income thresholds for residents in cities located within a North Carolina metropolitan statistical area whose population exceeds 500,000 residents. This bill also prohibits annexation of agricultural property by a municipality without express written agreement by the owner. The bill remains on the House calendar for debate next week.
For questions about this bill, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
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 X. 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.
Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Professions and Occupations subcommittee
H4086 – Requires that certain licensees of the Residential Builders Commission be deemed to satisfy certain implied warranties – favorable report as amended by the subcommittee to strike all of the language in the original bill and replace it with only technical changes. An additional subcommittee amendment continues to prohibit residential builders from working on structures over three floors high with more than 16 units in a single building. The committee further amended the bill to strike all of the language requiring surety bonds for licensees.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires that certain licensees of the Residential Builders Commission be deemed to satisfy certain implied warranties.
House Medical Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee
S423 – Enacts the SC Compassionate Care Act – the committee took testimony but did not take action on the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the sale of medical cannabis products and the conditions under which a sale can occur.
House Judiciary Committee
S1 – Creates the offense of fentanyl-induced homicide – favorable report as amended. The amendment tables the subcommittee amendment and adopts an amendment that clarifies that this law does not apply to someone who shares drugs and is unaware that the drugs contain fentanyl.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Creates the offense of fentanyl-induced homicide for a person who illegally delivers, dispenses or provides fentanyl to another person and the cause of death for that person is fentanyl-related.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
S542 – Enacts the SC Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience Act – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes the C-PACE program that local governments can voluntarily implement to offer low-cost, long-term financing for qualifying improvements to increase sustainability and decrease energy and water costs.
Senate Transportation subcommittee
H3359 – Defines the term "utility terrain vehicle" and outlines the registration and operation of these vehicles on highways and streets – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Defines the term "utility terrain vehicle" and outlines the registration and operation of these vehicles on highways and streets.
Senate Judiciary Committee
H3734 – Requires all municipal elections to be held on certain dates – favorable report as amended. The amendment sets the election date for all cities and towns as either the first Tuesday of April or the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November of odd years. The amendment also does not require election machines, eliminates holdover status for incumbents who are defeated or don't run again and adds provisions of S406.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes several changes to municipal elections including dates, voting machines and terms of office.
H4231 – Allows a micro-distillery to sell certain liquors distilled on the premises on Sundays – favorable report as amended. The amendment allows a city to hold its own referendum if the county votes no.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a micro-distillery to sell certain liquors distilled on the premises on Sundays.
H4563 – Clarifies the power of special purpose districts to own, acquire, purchase or dispose of property – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Clarifies the power of special purpose districts to own, acquire, purchase, hold, use, lease, convey, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of property.
H4867 – Requires all 911 telecommunicators that provide dispatch for medical emergencies be trained in T-CPR – favorable report as amended by the subcommittee to add gross negligence and recklessness to current language in the bill regarding liability.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires all 911 telecommunicators that provide dispatch for medical emergencies be trained in T-CPR.