SCAPA Legislative Update - March 2023
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SCAPA Legislative Update - March 2023
Submitted by Sunnie Harmon and John DeWorken, LobbySC
Legislative Session Hits Halfway Point
Last week marked the end of the ninth week, which means the 2023 Legislative Session is halfway over. However, this is the first year of a two-year Session, so any bills remaining will still be alive in January 2024. Of note, Sine Die is on May 11.
House Ways and Means Takes Up Budget
At the time of writing this update, the House would be working on the budget on the House floor. It is expected to finish this week.
Workforce Development Bill Advances
The House passed H.3726, a bill that streamlines the State’s workforce development initiatives into one agency, the SC Department of Employment and Workforce. The intent of the bill is for the State to better address workforce needs in South Carolina. The bill also creates a new division that is dedicated to this effort, and many other related provisions.
“Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act” Advances
The House of Representatives passed H.3014, which is a bill that provides that when a person commits a violent crime and it was committed against a victim who was intentionally selected in whole or in part because of the person's belief or perception regarding the victim's race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, whether or not the perception is correct, the person is subject to additional penalties. The Senate will now have an opportunity to consider the bill.
Senate Finance Advances New Resident Fee
The Senate Finance Committee advanced S.208, a bill by Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown), that would allow local governments to put forth a referendum for citizens to vote to charge new residents a $250 driver’s license fee and/or a $250 vehicle registration fee.
Bill Introduced to Prohibit Companies from Foreign Adversaries to Purchase Land; Bill also Reduces Acres Allowed to be Owned by an Alien Company or Alien Person
Senator Shane Massey (R-Edgefield) introduced a bill that would prohibit corporations controlled by a foreign adversary from purchasing land and reduces the amount of acreage an alien company or alien person may own.
The bill provides that corporations that are controlled by a foreign adversary, as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce, may not acquire any interest in real property within the limits of this State. Moreover, this bill reduces from 500,000 to 1,000 the number of acres an alien corporation or person shall be allowed to own in the State. This bill is up for consideration in a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday. The bill is being considered in a Senate subcommittee.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits Discussed
A Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee is discussing a bill by Senator Ross Turner (R-Greenville) that would lower the current maximum weeks for unemployment benefits from 20 to 13 weeks. Of note, Florida, North Carolina, and Kentucky capped their collection weeks at 12, while Alabama and Georgia capped their collection weeks at 14. Some of those states also have implemented a system that fluctuates collection weeks allowed based on the unemployment rate. The bill was carried over, but discussions between Senators Massey (R-Edgefield) and Turner indicated that the bill may be amended at a future meeting to add an indexing provision to it to match what neighboring states are doing.
Former Governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley Announces Bid for President
As everyone knows by now, South Carolina’s first female and minority governor, Nikki Haley, announced her intention to run for President of the United States. To watch Haley’s speech, click here.
Scout America Chooses South Carolina
House Ways & Means and Senate Finance moved to approve an incentive package for Scout Motors, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, for a production plant in Blythewood that will sit on over 1500 acres and employ 4,000 people in Phase 1. Scout will build all-electric trucks and SUVs at this location.
The Joint Resolution appropriates $1.291B to the Department of Commerce for this project. $1.2B of those funds will come from the Contingency Reserve Fund and $86M from the projected general fund surplus.
The $1.2B will fund a new interstate interchange on 1-77, site improvements, rail spur connectors, water and wastewater infrastructure, a training center, soil stabilization and land acquisition.
An additional $200M will provide a loan with Volkswagen being the guarantor. The $200M will go towards further soil stabilization and paid back with interest to the state, which is not eligible for loan forgiveness.
Secretary Lightsey emphasized the magnitude of this announcement and said that Richland County and South Carolina beat out 74 other potential sites. Senate Finance Chairman Peeler talked about how BMW had transformed the Upstate and that this project would do the same for the Midlands.
H.4088, the House Joint Resolution received second reading Thursday by a vote of 93-14 and should receive third reading when the House returns Monday.
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Sunnie Harmon & John DeWorken
LobbySC
Sunnie Harmon
Sunnie@LobbySC.com
John DeWorken
John@LobbySC.com
