Here’s the issues lawmakers couldn’t agree on, but still have a chance to be SC laws
From the state’s energy needs to selecting judges, lawmakers could not agree on a number of issues. When both the House and Senate insist on their versions of legislation and wouldn’t budge to agree on a final fit for the bill, they are sent to conference.
Some bills died because conferees were not appointed.
Conferences take place after session, which ended Thursday at 5 p.m. Here’s some of the issues that still have chance to become law this year.
The Energy bill
After months of back and forth from the House and the Senate, lawmakers have still not found a way to agree on a version of energy reform. The House version is a massive, wide-ranging bill allowing two utilities to work on a joint project at Canadys, while changing the makeup and oversight of the Public Service Commission. The Senate version is a resolution about the state’s future energy needs.
“We are not going to pass what the House sent over. We are not going to pass what the committee reported out,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said Thursday of last week.
The bill was a top priority for the House over fears of rolling blackouts in previous winters.
“I’m not really sure what the, what the idea is there. It’s kind of comical really. But every one of those things are clear bobtails. So even if we agreed with them, every one of them would be struck down across the street, every single one of them,” Massey said of the House’s tactic to attached the energy bill to unrelated pieces of legislation.
Massey said there are serious concerns about rates. He acknowledged while speaking to reporters the energy bill may be the most important piece of legislation for the state’s future.
“We are committed to doing that because we recognize just how important that issue is,” Massey said the previous week. “We’re gonna give it a lot of time. We’re gonna give it a lot of consideration and I’m confident that we’ll get answers to our questions. We’ll be more confident in the information that we have and that we will be in a position to go forward with some significant energy legislation early 2025.
Massey said Thursday that the group would ideally meet in the fall and there is a lot of work to be done, but lawmakers realize the importance and seriousness of the bill, and they want to ensure it’s done the right way.
The conference committee for the issues includes state Reps. Russell Ott, Jay West and Rep. Bill Sandifer, and state Sens. Luke Rankin, Massey and Brad Hutto.
Judicial merit selection
The Senate and House could not agree on the final makeup of the committee that screens judges, and how to maneuver around the conversation of subdued influence from lawyer-legislators.
Both versions of the bills allow the governor to appoint members to the JSMC.
A candidate must receive a majority of the House and Senate to be elected in the Senate version of the bill, compared to the House version, which calls for a 13-member commission, four appointed by the House speaker, two appointed by the Senate judiciary chairman, two appointed by the Senate president, and five appointed by the governor. One of the governor’s appointees would be a retired judge who would serve as the chair of the commission.
The House version also ensures ensures that when picking judges, non-lawmakers have a majority.
On Thursday, Massey said he was hopeful they would get an agreement on the bill, because while the bills are different, they’re close.
Businesses docks/wetlands
The House and Senate could not agree on amendments for this bill, which would allow a business with a deck, dock, or other structure located in a “critical area” to use the structure, but only for purposes directly related to the operation of the business. The business has to provide a plan for its use, which would be submitted and approved by the local zoning board that has jurisdiction where the business is located.
Childcare center caregiver
This bill would change caregiver requirements to require more training, but lawmakers can not agree on what should be required.
The versions of the bill have gone back and forth from including requiring a GED or high school diploma, as well as how long the caregiver must be supervised, among other stipulations surrounding training and safety.
Safe Harbor for exploited minors
This bill, S 142, relates to the definition of sex trafficking and moves to expand it, including the exploitation of a minor and prostitution of a minor. Hutto, said an amendment was put onto the bill dealing with the shielding of address information for victims of criminal domestic violence was something that the House had not vetted yet.
Robust redhorse
The robust redhorse bill, H. 4386, focuses on the capture, killing or taking of the redhorse-type fish that lives in the freshwater streams of the eastern United States. The bill is paired with commercial and recreational blue crab fishing regulations.
The budget
There are multiple differences in the House and Senate version of the budget. The State reported the major ones after the House adopted what they wanted for a second time Wednesday
The House and Senate both want to raise teachers starting salaries, but they can not agree on how much state aid should be sent out to school districts. The House wants $229 million in state aid given to classrooms, compared to the Senate plan for $200 million in state aid.
The House and Senate could also not agree on how much a state employee should earn and what their raises would look like. Under the Senate plan, any state employee earning $50,000 or less would receive a $1,375 raise. Those earning more than $50,000 a year would receive a 2.75% pay increase. The House plan would give a $1,000 raise to any state employee earning $66,667 or less. Anyone earning more than $66,667 would receive a 1.5% raise.
The two could not agree on the state’s Medicaid program and how much to spend on it. The Senate increased Medicaid spending by $56.1 million, while the House wanted to spend $105.2 million more on Medicaid, citing rising costs and inflation on health care.
Critical Race Theory
The bill has been in conference for almost a year, and has caused concern from educators and community members.
Among the issues remaining to be figured out in the Transparency and Integrity in Education Act is when a parent unhappy with what’s being taught in a classroom can bring a lawsuit.
The House included a provision to allow a parent to file a lawsuit against a school district. The Senate wants to change the language that would require the person bringing the lawsuit to be a parent of a child in the school district.
A lawsuit can only be filed after the parent brings their concerns to the principal, school district superintendent, district school board, and state board of education.If the parent is still dissatisfied, then then a lawsuit can be filed.
Other bills headed to conference include:
Wild Turkey hunting season and regulations
Organized retail crime
Coroner qualifications
A pharmacists and technicians bill, highlighting definitions related to training
The Uniform Money Services Act, which aims to protect South Carolinians from financial crime
If the conference committees reach a consensus on each legislation, the Senate and House would have opportunities in June to pass the compromise when they are back to vote on the budget and other previously scheduled matters.
