Statehouse Update April 15-17

Update 4/16/25: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week.

The legislative schedule at the Statehouse is relatively light this week. The House is on furlough, and the full Senate is scheduled to meet just one day, likely to take up the budget. SCPC will provide a deeper analysis of the Senate's budget soon. Despite the lighter floor schedule, several bills are still moving in Senate committees and subcommittees. Update: The Senate met Tuesday and Wednesday. Budget debate has been delayed, S.244 replaced the House's liquor liability bill as an amendment, and ESA was amended to include lottery and general funding which then passed.

Taxes

• Durable medical equipment sales tax S.266 – Extends sales tax emption on durable medical equipment made outside of South Carolina. A Senate Finance sales & income tax subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 15 fifteen minutes upon Senate adjournment. Update: This bill has advanced to the full Senate finance committee as amended.
• Manufacturing property tax exemption S.439 - Increases the property tax exemption for manufacturing property, allowing a larger portion of its value to be excluded from taxation. A Senate Finance property tax subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 15 thirty minutes upon Senate adjournment. Update: This bill has advanced to the full Senate finance committee.
• Boat property taxes S.317 – Provides a tax exemption for fifty percent of a watercraft’s fair market value. A Senate Finance property tax subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 15 thirty minutes upon Senate adjournment.
• Cities with no millage S.102 – Allows new municipalities to impose a millage rate that supplements one-third of the previous fiscal year’s fund expenses. A Senate Finance property tax subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 15 thirty minutes upon Senate adjournment. Update: This bill has advanced to the full Senate finance committee as amended.

Legal Reform

• Informed consent S.343 – Requires that recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccination be notified that the safety of the vaccine is unknown, and that they sign a written notice. A Senate medical affairs subcommittee hears this bill on Wednesday, April 16 at 9:30am.
• Civil litigation reform S.316 – Extends protections and privileges of Attorney General by clarifying public interest activities. The Senate Judiciary committee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 15 at 2pm or 15 minutes upon Senate adjournment. Update: This bill has advanced to the Senate floor. 

Other

• License plate reader system S.447 – Authorizes and limits use of license plate reader cameras/systems. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 15 at 10:30am, with the full Senate Judiciary scheduled to hear the same bill at 2pm (or 15 minutes upon Senate adjournment). Update: This bill has advanced to the full Senate Judiciary committee, which carried over the bill on Tuesday.

Government Structure

• The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will continue the nomination hearing for Ms. Myra Reece, interim director of the Department of Environmental Services, on Tuesday, April 15 at 10am. Update: This appointment was approved.