SC Senate Republican Caucus

PRESS RELEASE: The Senate Delivers on Judicial Selection Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2024

THE SENATE DELIVERS ON JUDICIAL SELECTION REFORM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Thursday, the South Carolina Senate approved bipartisan judicial selection reform measures to increase public confidence and prioritize transparency in the selection of state judges.

“S. 1046 gives the Governor a meaningful role in the selection of judges, requires all public hearings to be livestreamed, limits Judicial Merit Selection Commission members to nonconsecutive terms, and reduces the ability of the JMSC to manipulate results,” said Senator Wes Climer. “These are wins for South Carolina.”

Also included in the bill is a provision to require candidates to be elected by a majority vote in both the House and the Senate, instead of a simple majority of all legislators. This measure will improve representation and prevent judges from being elected without a single Senate vote.

Senator Luke Rankin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, added: “Increasing transparency in the selection of judges will instill greater confidence in the process. I am pleased with this bipartisan legislation to fix what is broken and what is perceived to be broken in the screening of judicial candidates.”

Senate Bill 1046 is expected to receive a third reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

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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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