Statehouse Update April 29-May 1

The budget, big energy bill, and film industry incentives are on the House floor this week. School choice is on the Senate floor, and many important education bills including schoolboard livestreaming are set to be heard in a House k-12 subcommittee.

Taxes and spending

• Film industry handouts H.3832 – Allocates rebates amounting to 30% of an annual production budget to film producers that spend over $250,000 and heightens that budget limit to $2 million annually. This bill is on the House floor.
• No taxes on outboard motors, decreased boat tax H.3858 - Removes the requirement for boat outboard motors to be titled, effectively eliminating a tax on outboard motors. The bill also provides for a 50% property tax exemption on boats. Update: The House ways and means committee advanced this bill to the House floor on Wednesday, April 30. 

Energy

• The big energy bill H.3309– This bill is the General Assembly’s aim at generating more energy to meet demands, the bill restructures the public service commission and mandates the departmental transfer of consumer advocacy responsibilities to the office of regulatory staff. It also encourages the deployment of a natural gas facility and new nuclear facilities, automatically approves projects after 6 months, bypasses the SC Court of Appeals for approvals, and still allows companies to charge ratepayers before project completion. The bill encourages adherence to a 10-year plan that rejects market signals and creates more bureaucracy. This bill is on the House floor. To read the latest SCPC energy analysis, click here. Update: This bill was amended and advanced back to the Senate for approval on Thursday, May 1. 

Legal reform

• No illegals voting S.582 – This is the ratification of the constitutional amendment passed by S.C. voters in 2024. It states that only properly registered citizens 18 years or older are voting. This bill is on the Senate floor.
• 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. The Senate Medical Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 30 at 9:30 AM and on Thursday, May 1 at 10:00 AM.

Education

• Education scholarship trust fund S.62 - A rendition of last year’s ESA bill, establishing accounts to be used on the school of the students’ choosing. The bill has been amended to designate the general fund and the state lottery as the funding sources. For the latest SCPC analysis of the ESA bill, click here. This bill is on the Senate floor. Update: This bill has passed the full Senate chamber and moves to the House for consideration.
• S.C. healthy schools act H.4339 – This bill would prevent schools participating in a federally funded or assisted meal program from selling or serving ultra processed food on school premises. A House k-12 education subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 29 1.5 after House adjournment. The House EPW committee meets upon adjournment of the k-12 subcommittee to hear this bill upon k-12 favorable report. Update: This bill has advanced to the House floor.
• Private security for public schools S.269 – Allows public school districts with over 15,000 students to contract private security protection to work in public schools. A House k-12 education subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 29 1.5 after House adjournment. The House EPW committee meets upon adjournment of the k-12 subcommittee to hear this bill upon k-12 favorable report. Update: This bill has advanced to the House floor.
• Schoolboard livestreaming S.77 – Requires school boards to adopt policies for electronic transmission of meetings. A House k-12 education subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 29 1.5 after House adjournment. The House EPW committee meets upon adjournment of the k-12 subcommittee to hear this bill upon k-12 favorable report. Update: This bill has advanced to the House floor as amended.
• Noncertified teachers S.79 – Allows public schools to hire non-certified teachers for up to 10% of their teaching staff. A House k-12 education subcommittee hears this bill on Tuesday, April 29 1.5 after House adjournment. The House EPW committee meets upon adjournment of the k-12 subcommittee to hear this bill upon k-12 favorable report. Update: This bill has advanced to the House floor.
• Work experience credit for teachers S.78 – Allows for teachers to gain one year of experience credit for every two years of full-time relevant work experience completed by that individual. This bill is on the House floor.