Legislative Update: January 20
News from the House of Representatives
Superintendent of Education
The House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee met this week to approve legislation regarding the election of the Superintendent of Education. The Superintendent of Education must possess extensive experience in the field of education including, but not limited to, service as a classroom teacher, principal, other school or school district administrator, school district superintendent, member of a school board, or other education policy making body at either the state or local level or extensive experience in operational and financial management in any field of expertise including, but not limited to, finance, economics, accounting, law, or business. Should voters approve the constitutional amendment, the Superintendent of Education would be appointed by the Governor beginning in January 2023. The Governor’s appointee would need to be confirmed by the Senate. The legislation will be before the House Judiciary Committee next week.
House Budget Schedule
The House Ways and Means Committee has released the following tentative schedule for budget deliberations.
- January 24-26: Budget Subcommittee Meetings
- January 31-February 2: Budget Subcommittee Meetings
- February 7-9: Budget Subcommittee Meetings
- February 14-16: Proviso Subcommittee Meeting
- February 20-23: Full Ways & Means Committee Budget Deliberations
- February 28-March 2: Appropriation Bill Printed
- March 7-9: Printed Appropriation Bill placed on House Members’ desks
- March 13-16: House Floor Budget Deliberations
News from the Senate
Senate Schedule
The Senate will return in statewide session at 2:00pm on Tuesday, January 24.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The Senate Corrections and Penology Committee approved a bill by Senator Sheheen this week relating to unmanned aerial vehicles. The legislation says that a person shall not operate an unmanned aerial vehicle within a horizontal distance of 500 feet or a vertical distance of 250 feet from any local detention facility without written consent from the jail administrator. A person who violates the law would be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both. The bill now goes to the Senate floor for its consideration.