South Carolina General Assembly
Narrow medical marijuana approval possible in SC, H. 4803/S. 1035
While a broad medical marijuana bill withered and died in the state legislature this session, bills allowing a more specific use of a medical marijuana extract to treat forms of epilepsy have a chance for passage. A Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee last week moved forward with a bill, H.4803, that would allow the use of cannabidiol oil, or CBD, in clinical trials. The Senate already has passed a similar, but more restrictive, bill S.1035. The House bill allows any physician in the state who is participating in a clinical trial to provide the CBD to a patient with any form of refractory epilepsy. The Senate bill allowed only for the use in clinical trials based at the Medical University of South Carolina. Read more here.
Statewide texting ban picks up steam in SC Legislature H.4386
A statewide texting ban gained momentum in the House last week. The House already passed a statewide texting ban in April, sending it to the Senate for consideration. But on Wednesday, a House education panel took up a Senate bill that would ban texting while driving for beginning or restricted drivers only, or all drivers traveling through school zones when caution lights are flashing. The House panel decided that its ban was better than the Senate's version and replaced it. If the full House again approves the proposal, the Senate and House will have to resolve differences between their two proposals before any texting ban becomes law. Read more here.
SC senators spar over gay-themed books
State senators will debated on whether to restore money that was cut from two S.C. colleges after the schools assigned freshmen to read gay-themed books. For hours last week, senators debated the nearly $70,000 cut by the S.C. House from the budgets of the College of Charleston and University of South Carolina Upstate. Read more here.
SC Senate allocates more funds to 4-year-old kindergarten expansion over local governments
City and county governments in South Carolina may have fewer dollars when they consider their budgets this year after a decision by the S.C. Senate prioritized early education spending over additional funds to local governments. For years, the state has allocated additional dollars to municipalities primarily to help with state-mandated services, such as magistrates, offices for solicitors and running elections. It's the second-largest revenue stream for localities, lawmakers said. Read more here.
SC legislators working on election law fix H.3198
Both the House and Senate have passed a bill designed to prevent a lawsuit from throwing South Carolina's elections into chaos again. But their versions differ. A six-member panel appointed this week will try to reach a compromise on the legislation, which is aimed at creating a statewide model for county election boards. Read more here.
In the News
Calendar watching in political giving coming to an end?
Looking at the calendar might be a thing of the past for campaign contributors. One change in the ethics reform bill, approved by a House panel last week, would end confusion over giving contributions shortly after a primary or runoff. State law now says any money given within seven days after primary or runoff must go toward the previous election cycle. The rule can make fundraising tough in the two weeks between a primary and a runoff, political observers say. Donors who give the $3,500 maximum in a primary for a statewide race must wait half the time remaining before a runoff before contributing again. If the change becomes law, candidates will be able to count contributions to any cycle as long as donors don’t exceed the state-mandated limits. Read more here.
Port Royal eyes countywide sales tax to fund port purchase
With no conventional financing options available allowing Port Royal to purchase the state port property in town, officials are looking for other ways to raise capital. And that includes a proposed 1 percent capital-projects sales tax that would be applied countywide. Read more here.
Lawmakers propose alternatives to Guard cuts
The Army National Guard would avoid personnel and equipment cuts under proposals from two South Carolina lawmakers. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, are leading an effort on Capitol Hill to preserve the size of the military’s reserve forces and help reserve units, including one outside of Columbia, keep their attack helicopters. Read more here.
What’s the real cost to fix SC’s roads?
The $48.3 billion officials say is needed over the next 20 years to fix the state’s roads and bridges amounts to $1.1 million for every mile of state-maintained road in the state. Read more here.
Colleagues remembered former SC congressman Butler Derrick
Butler Derrick, who represented South Carolina from the 3rd Congressional District for 20 years and was the last Democrat to hold that spot, has died after a seven-month battle with cancer. He was 77. Nelson Mullins managing partner Jim Lehman confirmed that Derrick died Monday at his home in Easley. Read more here.
Meeting Schedule
Monday, May 12
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No Meetings Scheduled
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Tuesday, May 13
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10:30 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Joint Legislative Committee to Screen Candidates for College and University Boards of Trustees
11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus
11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus
Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 112 -- Minority Caucus
1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 108 -- Ways and Means Licenses, Fees, Insurance Tax and Other Charges Subcommittee
I. H. 4600 – Roads for Economic Development Act
II. S. 294 – Accommodation Tax Revenues
III. S. 985 – Fairness in Lodging Act
IV. S. 1000 – Automobile Manufacturer License Plates
1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 433 -- Education and Public Works Committee on S.160, S.459 and S.516
I. S. 160 – CPR
II. S. 459 – Use of Cellphone While Driving
III. S. 516 – Read to Succeed Act
2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 427 -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
I. S. 1036 – Dental Sedation Act
II. S. 1084 – Daycare Centers, Nurseries and Kindergartens
III. S. 1172 – Arts Commission
IV. S. 1056 – Hearing Aids
2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 511 -- LCI Insurance Subcommittee on S.909 and S.1233
I. S. 909 – Captive Insurance Companies
II. S. 1233 – Annuity Mortality Tables
2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Committee
I. S. 92 – NDAA Act
II. S. 687 – Blind Persons Right to Parent Act
III. S. 872 – Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children
IV. S. 446 – Lieutenant Governor
V. S. 495 – Charitable Organizations
VI. S. 176 – Magistrates Court
VII. S. 343 – Uniform Commercial Code
VIII. S. 840 – Prescription Monitoring Programs
IX. S. 779 – Lotteries
X. S. 1007 – Mortgage Foreclosures
XI. S. 1076 – Law Enforcement
XII. S. 356 – Notary Publics
XIII. S. 561 – Nonferrous Metals
XIV. S. 440 – Use of Restraints on Juvenile Defendants
XV. S. 813 – Public Library Trespass
XVI. S. 700 – Destruction of Criminal Records
XVII. S. 755 – Obtaining or Using Personal Information Obtained from a State Agency
2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Public Utilities Subcommittee on S.757 and S.1189
I. S. 757 – Wind Energy Capabilities of South Carolina
II. S. 1189 – Distributed Energy Resource Program Act
Upon adjournment of the Insurance Subcommittee -- Blatt Room 511 -- LCI Business and Commerce Subcommittee on S.826, S.998 and S.1100
I. S. 826 – Workers Compensation Insurance
II. S. 998 – Dealers License
III. S. 1100 – Unemployment Benefits
4:30 pm -- Blatt Room 427 -- SC Legislative Black Caucus
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Wednesday, May 14
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8:00 am - 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Legislative Breakfast--City of Cayce (Members Only)
8:30 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 403 -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee on S.569, S.757, S.909, S.1026, S.1065, S.1099, S.1189 and S.1233
I. S. 569 – Competitive Insurance Act
II. S. 757 – Wind Energy Capabilities of South Carolina
III. S. 909 – Captive Insurance Companies
IV. S. 1026 – Contractor Payment Bonds
V. S. 1065 – Self Storage Facilities
VI. S. 1099 – Unemployment Benefits
VII. S. 1189 – Distributed Energy Resource Program Act
VIII. S. 1233 – Annuity Mortality Tables
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Senate Ethics Committee Public Hearing on Robert Ford
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.4630
I. H. 4630 – Law Enforcement Certification
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- General Committee
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.4732
I. H. 4732 – Party Conventions
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Higher Education Subcommittee
I. H. 4632 – Charleston University Act
11:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Banking and Insurance Committee on S.422, H.3134, H.4911 and H.4916
I. S. 422 – Mammograms
II. H. 3134 – Methods of Entering a Satisfaction of Mortgage
III. H. 4911 – Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act
IV. H. 4916 – Notice Requirements of an Insurer
11:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.3024, H.3102, H.4348 and H.4408
I. H. 3024 – Child Abuse
II. H. 3102 – Jaidon’s Law
III. H. 4348 – Child Visitation
IV. H. 4408 – Child Fatality Advisory Committee
11:30 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Legislative Group--(Rep. Heather Crawford)
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm -- Blatt Room 112 -- Legislative Luncheon--South Carolina Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Members Only)
2:30 pm -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture Environmental Affairs I Subcommittee
I. H. 4290 – Mining Fees
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Thursday, May 15
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8:00 am - 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Legislative Breakfast--AMI Kids, Inc.
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- K-12 Education Subcommittee
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Corrections and Penology Committee
9:30 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.1283, H.3539, H.3626 and H.4399
I. S.1283 – Powdered Alcohol
II. H.3539 – Sale of Alcohol - Election Day
III. H.3626 – Motorsports Entertainment Complex
IV. H.4399 – Alcohol Permits
9:30 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Medical Affairs Committee
9:30 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.773 and S.788
I. S.773 –Transparency in Private Attorney Contracts Act
II. S.788 – Noneconomic Damages Limit
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Friday, May 16
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No Meetings Scheduled.
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