What's New

The Senate and House of Representatives were in session this week and held subcommittee and committee meetings. There are 9 legislative days left in the regular session. The General Assembly needs to complete action on the Appropriations bill (H. 3701) which has now been returned to the House for concurrence or further amendment. Major bills still before the Senate include the Capital Reserve Fund bill (H. 3072) and the road funding legislation (H. 3579).

However, members of the Senate Republican Caucus released a new proposal to address the state’s roads and infrastructure needs.

The Senate, however, continues to debate H. 3114, the “South Carolina Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” which has impacted the Senate’s ability to pursue other bills.

In the House, Representatives amended and passed S.47, a bill requiring state law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. The House amended the bill to instruct the SC Law Enforcement Training Council to conduct a pilot group to protect and establish guidelines for using body cameras.

The House also had a lengthy debate on H.3521, a bill that would prevent SC courts or law enforcement entities from enforcing foreign law. They adjourned debate on the bill until Tuesday. Additionally, the House passed S.426, a bill that creates the foundation for Mental Health courts in the State.

Top News Articles

Haley: South Carolina against storing spent fuel
Gov. Nikki Haley’s office said South Carolina will not join other states in voluntarily opening its doors to house the nation’s spent nuclear fuel, stating that a recently announced federal search for interim storage sites “masks repeated failures to meet commitments.” Read more.

Haley: SC workforce ‘won’ Volvo
Volvo chose South Carolina to build its first U.S. auto plant because the state offered the best workforce and employee training, state and company officials said Monday. Read more.

Volvo deal highlights conservation trend
Not long after Volvo announced that it planned to fill nearly 200 acres of wetlands for a new Lowcountry automobile plant, conservation groups and natural resource agencies actually praised the international carmaker’s proposal for South Carolina. Read more.

Clinton to Make First South Carolina Trip May 27
The campaign for Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Democratic presidential candidate plans to be in the early voting state of South Carolina on May 27. Read more.

SC senate removes college, tech-school borrowing from budget
A proposal to borrow $237 million for maintenance and buildings at state colleges, tech schools and armories took a big hit Tuesday when state senators removed it from the state’s proposed budget. Read more.

South Carolina may get small ethics reform package this year
Ethics reform might not be dead at the South Carolina Statehouse this year: A Senate committee on Tuesday passed a lighter version of the measure pertaining to what income lawmakers and their families must disclose and when candidates must report campaign spending. Read more.

House gives key approval to mental health courts bill
The House gave key approval Tuesday to a bill to expand the state’s mental health courts. Read more.

SC lawmakers will revise plan to protect citizens who video police
An S.C. Senate bill that would protect citizens who video police actions in public places will be modified to make sure that police officers’ ability to make arrests unhindered are also protected, senators said Tuesday. Read more.

Governor Haley to promote employment initiative in Florence
Gov. Nikki Haley will be in town Thursday talking about her workforce initiative SucceedSC that she introduced in her January State of the State address. Read more.

Will Volvo become another front in S.C.’s fight against unions?
Of the questions yet unanswered about the Volvo plant that will be built in Berkeley County, one of the most interesting is how Volvo will approach the issue of the plant’s potential unionization. Read more.

Capital Reserve Fund bill stalls on roads debate
Senate debate over how to fund road repairs has once again stalled progress on a Capital Reserve Fund bill. Read more.

South Carolina Legislators Approve Body Cameras for Police
South Carolina lawmakers unanimously passed a measure on Wednesday that will require all state and local law enforcement officers to be equipped with body cameras. Read more.

College presidents form coalition to address Lowcountry workforce demand
As the Lowcountry prepares for tens of thousands of new science and technology jobs in the years ahead, presidents of seven colleges in South Carolina have agreed to form a consortium focused on aligning their degree programs with the needs of the region’s future workforce. Read more.

Abortion foe blocks 20-week ban in S.C. Senate
An outspoken abortion opponent blocked an effort Thursday to ban abortions in South Carolina at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later – killing what supporters said was the bill’s best shot at passing this year. Read more.

New S.C. State board lineup complete
The final four appointments to S.C. State’s interim board include business and academic leaders charged with helping lead a turnaround at the state’s only historically black public college. Read more.

Meetings and Events

Tuesday, May 19
5:30 Reception for Davey Hiott
The Ballroom of the Palmetto Club, 1231 Sumter Street

Newly Introduced Legislation

EMPLOYMENT 
H. 4171 Hiott: AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA EMPLOYEE INJURY BENEFIT PLAN ALTERNATIVE"

HEALTHCARE 
S. 778Malloy: SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STATUTORY HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY ACT"

JUDICIAL 
H. 4187 W. J. McLeod: RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR JUDGES AND SOLICITORS

TAX/INFRASTRUCTURE 
S. 759 McElveen: RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION