Statehouse Update March 4-6

Update 3/06/25: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week.

Liability legislation is set for debate on the Senate floor, along with a slew of other bills scheduled on the Senate calendar. Legislation allowing the governor to appoint the Director of Employment and Workforce and Public Service Commission members is in subcommittee for hearings. Keep an eye out for a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing of the big energy bill this Wednesday.

Legal Reform

Tort Reform S.244 – Provides that a jury determine the percentage of fault of the claimant and of any nonparty, using those percentages as a basis for damages, along with other insurance regulatory reforms. For a full SCPC analysis of S.244, click here. Debate is expected to commence on the Senate floor.
Liability Regulation S.184 – Allows for a licensee that sells, serves, or otherwise furnishes alcohol (bar or restaurant owners) to be held civilly liable to a third party for damages arising out of the sale or furnishing of alcohol. This bill addresses "Dram Shop" laws, which place liability on a business based on their duty to train employees in identifying intoxication and denying those under 21. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
Liquor Liability H.3497 – Establishes a liquor liability risk mitigation program where if qualified, a business can have discounts applied to their insurance premium by the provider. The House Judiciary committee hears this bill Tuesday, March 4. Update: This bill has advanced to the House floor.
SC DOGE S.318 – Creates a commission that sends spending cut recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
Regulatory Freedom/Judicial Deference H.3021 - For every new regulation introduced, two existing regulations must be removed, allowing challenges to existing regulations in court, and introducing expiration dates for regulations. This bill is on the House floor for debate. Update: This bill has passed the full House by a unanimous vote.
Informed Vaccine Consent, Emergency Power Expansion S.54 - Bans vaccine mandates, transfers emergency health powers of the state from DHEC to the Department of Public Health and expands emergency health powers all widespread illnesses. Finally, the bill preserves the power to forcibly quarantine asymptomatic patients if they refuse vaccination or treatment. A medical affairs subcommittee hears this bill at 10am on Wednesday, March 5.

Second Amendment

Automatic Carry Permit Renewals S.168– Sets carry permits to automatically renew and eliminates the renewal fee. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee hears this bill upon Senate adjournment on Tuesday, March 4.

Education

Noncertified Teachers S. 79 – Allows public schools to hire non-certified teachers for up to 10% of their teaching staff. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.

Energy

Joint Resolution, Santee Cooper S.12 - “to authorize the Public Service Authority to jointly own, as tenants-in-common or through a limited liability company, with investor-owned utilities, electrical generation and transmission facilities.” Gives the Public Service Authority power to jointly own investor-owned electric utilities, electrical generation and transmission facilities, the power to plan, finance, acquire, own, operate, and maintain those plants. This resolution is on the Senate floor for debate.
The Big Energy Bill H. 3309 - This bill is the SC House’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. It also encourages the deployment of new nuclear facilities, automatically approves projects after 6 months, bypasses the SC Court of Appeals, and still allows companies to charge ratepayers before project completion. The bill heightens the fiscal impact up to 23 million dollars and allows Santee Cooper to incur massive debt. The bill creates a 10-year plan that rejects market signals and relies on a Biden-era renewable energy institute funded by federal dollars. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee hears this bill at 10am on Wednesday, March 5.

Gov. Structure

Elimination of the Comptroller General S.35 – This bill proposes a constitutional amendment eliminating the position of Comptroller General. This bill is on the Senate floor for debate.
Unemployment Benefits Restructuring S.274 – Codifies weekly UI benefit to be no greater than $350, whereas current law states the max as being “sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the statewide average weekly wage most recently computed before the beginning of the individual's benefit year”. A Senate LCI Subcommittee hears this bill at 9am on Thursday, March 6.
Governor Appoints Dir. of Dept. of Employment and Workforce S.279 – Allows governor to Appoint Director by advice and consent of the Senate, whereas current law requires the governor to consider only nominations by the State Department of Employment and Workforce Review Committee. A Senate LCI Subcommittee hears this bill at 9am on Thursday, March 6.
Governor Appoints PSC Board Members H.3933 – Sets PSC board membership to 7 members, appointed by the governor based on recommendation of the relevant legislative delegation. Whereas the current law sets the board to make recommendations to the legislative delegation, who then makes the appointment instead of the governor. A Senate LCI Subcommittee hears this bill at 10:30am on Tuesday, March 4.

Budget Hearings

Agency Head Salary Commission

Tuesday, March 4 at 10am hearing from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, State Auditor, South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and Winthrop University.

Senate Finance Constitutional Subcommittee

Tuesday March 4 upon Senate Adjournment hearing from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority.

Senate Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee

Wednesday, March 5 at 9am hearing from MUSC Hospital Authority, Dept. of Health & Human Services, and the department of Public Health.

Senate Finance Transportation and Regulatory Subcommittee

Wednesday, March 5 at 12pm hearing from Dept. of Motor Vehicles, State Transportation Infrastructure Bank, and the Aeronautics Commission. Update: Canceled.

Senate Finance K-12 Education

Thursday, March 6 at 10am hearing from First Steps, Charter Institute at Erskine, and the Limestone Charter Association.

Senate Finance Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee

Thursday, March 6 at 10am hearing from the Dept. of Agriculture, SC State PSA, Patriots Point, and the South Carolina Research Authority.

Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee

Wednesday, March 5 at 10am hearing from the Medical University of South Carolina, Lander University, and the Tuition Grants Commission.
Thursday, March 6 at 10am hearing from Coastal Carolina University and Winthrop University.

Senate Finance Constitutional Subcommittee

Thursday, March 6 upon Senate adjournment hearing from the Legislative Audit Council, Election Commission, and the Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs.