Legislative Update
News from the House of Representatives
Furlough
The House of Representatives was on furlough this week. The House will return to session on Tuesday, February 23rd at noon.
2016 House Budget Calendar
The House Ways & Means Committee has released the House’s tentative 2016 budget calendar, which is listed below. Please note that the schedule has been updated and the full House deliberations have been pushed back until March 21st.
- February 22-25: Full Ways & Means Committee Budget Deliberations
- March 1-3: Appropriation Bill Printed
- March 8-10: Printed Appropriation Bill Distributed to All House Members
- March 15-17: Printed Appropriation Bill Distributed to All House Members
- March 21-24: House Floor Budget Deliberations
Additional House Furloughs
The House of Representatives has announced that they will furlough for three weeks during this session. The remaining weeks are listed below.
- March 29-31
- April 5-7
News from the Senate
Maintenance Dredging
A bill by Senator Greg Hembree permitting maintenance dredging was given second reading by the Senate this week. The bill would permit maintenance dredging by individuals of certain existing navigational canal community developments authorized by a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act or the Rivers and Harbors Act. The legislation affects existing navigational canal community developments by individuals of manmade, predominately armored, recreational use canals and essential access canals conveyed to the State or dedicated to the public for that purpose between 1965 and the effective date of this bill. The bill must receive third reading by the Senate before being sent to the House for its consideration.
Refugees
The Senate voted Tuesday to place a bill by Senator Lee Bright dealing with refugees in Special Order on the Senate Calendar. The legislation provides that refugees placed in South Carolina by the federal government must register with the Department of Social Services. It also prohibits state or local funds from being expended for the direct or indirect benefit of refugees until legislation specifically authorizing the expenditure is enacted. The bill was previously vetted by the Senate General Committee.
Tobacco Tax Stamps
On Tuesday the Senate Finance Committee gave a favorable with amendment report to a bill by Representative Mike Pitts that would reinstitute tax stamps on cigarettes. The legislation requires that tax stamps must be affixed to each individual package of cigarettes by distributors before being sold, distributed, or shipped to another person. Distributors would be allowed a maximum tax credit for $175,000 for the purchase of one stamping machine and equipment acquired by the distributor within one year of implementation by the Department of Revenue. The bill must receive third reading by the Senate before returning to the House for their consideration of the Senate amendments. The legislation would take effect on January 1, 2019 upon final approval by the House and the Governor.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame
On Thursday the Senate gave second reading to a bill by Representative Eddie Tallon that would increase the membership of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Advisory Committee to include the president of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police. The bill was previously approved by the House and must receive third reading by the Senate before going to Governor Haley for her signature.
Senate Furlough
The Senate has announced that they will furlough for one week during this session. The week is listed below.
- March 29-31