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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Pass Strong Constitutional Carry Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS PASS STRONG CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Wednesday, Senate Republicans passed a strong Constitutional Carry bill and delivered a major second-amendment victory for South Carolina. This tough-on-crime bill incorporated language adopted by a conference of Senate and House members and supported by Republicans in both chambers.

The Constitutional Carry Act of 2024 ensures law-abiding citizens are able to exercise their second amendment rights, cracks down on criminals in possession of firearms, and makes training more accessible to South Carolinians.

“My decade-long fight to enable responsible gun owners to carry a firearm without asking permission from the government concluded in a resounding victory today,” said Senator Shane Martin from Spartanburg. “Soon, freedom-loving South Carolinians will wake up to a new era of expanded second-amendment rights in the 29th Constitutional Carry state in the nation.”

Despite lies and pressure from out-of-state “gun rights” groups taking aim at Senate Republicans, we stood our ground and delivered results.

The bill heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Pass Landmark Health Agency Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS PASS LANDMARK HEALTH AGENCY REFORM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the Senate gave third reading to S. 915, a bill to consolidate existing state health agencies into the new, cabinet-level Executive Office of Health and Policy. The legislation by Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, Senate President Thomas Alexander, and others, enacts sweeping reforms of an ineffective system of health bureaucracy and brings real, tangible benefits to South Carolina taxpayers.

“I am pleased that the healthcare reorganization bill passed the Senate today,” said Senate President Thomas Alexander. “This legislation will give citizens a more accountable, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of medical services. I hope the bill moves quickly to the Governor’s desk so these reforms can become a reality.”

The bill prioritizes accountability by placing the Secretary of Health and Policy under the authority of the Governor instead of unelected board members.

Senator Tom Davis, chairman of the Medical Affairs subcommittee that received testimony on the bill, added: “An analysis of all fifty states revealed that South Carolina has the most fragmented healthcare delivery system in the nation, and predictably, poor health outcomes. Today, however, the South Carolina Senate passed a bill to consolidate six independent, overlapping, and inefficient health agencies and create a delivery system that is responsive, effective, and accountable.”

S. 915 is the culmination of years of hard work and the third major healthcare reform bill to pass out of the upper chamber this legislative session, following landmark bills to repeal Certificate of Need and split DHEC.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Deliver Victory on Constitutional Carry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS DELIVER VICTORY ON CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Once again, Senate Republicans delivered on their promises and passed H. 3594, the South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act. This pro-second amendment legislation expands gun rights for law abiding citizens and cracks down on criminals while making firearms training more accessible for South Carolinians.

“This is a huge victory for gun rights in South Carolina,” said Senator Shane Martin, author of the Senate version of the bill. “Constitutional Carry has long been a priority of mine, and now, thanks to united, Republican leadership in the Senate, law-abiding citizens will be able to carry a firearm without asking for permission from the government first.”

The days-long debate extended late into the evening on Wednesday and culminated in a final vote on Thursday, with a decisive super-majority of senators voting in favor of the bill.

Senator Wes Climer, Chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee that received testimony on the bill, added: “Once this bill is signed into law, every law-abiding South Carolinian will be able to carry a firearm anywhere it is legal to do so, without the need for a permission slip from the government. It ranks among the most significant expansions of individual liberty in this State in decades.”

The people asked, and Republicans listened. With today’s vote, South Carolina is poised to become the 28th state in the Nation where constitutional carry is law of the land.

The bill returns to the House before heading to the Governor’s desk.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Deliver WIN for Parental Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS DELIVER WIN FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, Senate Republicans delivered a win for parental rights in South Carolina with the passage of Senate Bill 882. The bill ensures parents must be informed about the medications prescribed to their children.

The bill’s primary sponsor, Senator Michael Johnson, released the following statement:

“The Senate passed my pro-parent, pro-family bill today with unanimous support. The bill is simple: it guarantees parents the ability to view their child’s medical history and give consent for medication. Because of this legislation hospitals will no longer be able to hide the prescription history of a 12-year-old from his or her parents, as one provider recently attempted to do in my district.”

The bill heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Say ‘NO’ to ESG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 17, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY ‘NO’ TO ESG

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Senate Republicans passed H. 3690, a bill to keep ESG out of the state retirement system. The bill guarantees that retirement investments will be based only on financial considerations and not liberal wish lists.

“Today, we made a commitment to beneficiaries of the South Carolina pension system,” said subcommittee Chairman Sean Bennett. “We will uphold our fiduciary duty and invest based on sound financial principles rather than misguided political activism.”

State retirees can rest assured that Senate Republicans won’t play political games with their hard-earned dollars.

The legislation marks the eighth bill to pass out of the upper chamber since the beginning of the new legislative session just a week ago. It will head next to the Governor’s desk.

Senate Republicans continue to get things done.

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