Larry Grooms Archives - SC Senate Republican Caucus

South Carolina Senate Republicans Stand for Education Freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 4, 2025

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICANS STAND FOR EDUCATION FREEDOM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, Republican Senators passed Senate Bill 62 and delivered on the promise to restore school-choice for South Carolina students.

“Senate Republicans made education freedom our first priority this legislative session,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey. “No longer will students in poverty be forced to attend status-quo, underperforming schools without any other options.”

The landmark bill establishes education lottery scholarships for low-income K-12 students to use toward expenses like tuition and fees for attending a private school or a public school outside of a student’s resident school district.

“For too long, we’ve invested in systems instead of students,” added Senator Greg Hembree, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and author of the bill. “Senate Bill 62 puts students and their parents back in the driver’s seat and empowers them with choice in education.”

This students-first bill follows a recent executive order by President Trump advancing K-12 school choice programs and establishing a White House policy to “support parents in choosing and directing the upbringing and education of their children.”

Senate Bill 62 is the latest in a long list of major education victories in South Carolina. Thanks to Republican leadership, the starting salary for public school teachers has increased by more than 56% over the last seven years, and teachers now enjoy benefits like paid family leave following the birth or adoption of a child.

Senate Republicans continue to get the job done for students and families.

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BREAKING: South Carolina Supreme Court Upholds Heartbeat Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2023

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Today, the South Carolina Supreme Court determined Act 70 of 2023, the Heartbeat bill, to be constitutional. The Court vacated the preliminary injunction and upheld the act with a decisive majority of justices.

South Carolina Supreme Court Upholds Heartbeat Bill

Fifty years of patience and devotion from the pro-life movement culminated in the fall of Roe last summer. The Dobbs decision meant relief for many across the nation and a renewed vigor to take up the fight for life at the state level.

South Carolina’s Dobbs moment is upon us now.

Today, the State Supreme Court made clear that South Carolina may enact a law to protect unborn children from abortion once a heartbeat is detectable.

The steadfast work of Senate Republicans on behalf of the most vulnerable has resulted in the birth of a new South Carolina; one that is no longer an abortion destination but a refuge for the unborn.

Our fight is not over. Today, we celebrate, and tomorrow, we continue striving to make South Carolina a free, safe, and beautiful home for all her citizens.

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PRESS RELEASE: South Carolina Senate Republicans Stand Up for Life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2023

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICANS STAND UP FOR LIFE

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the Senate voted to concur in House amendments to S. 474, a bill to prohibit the performance of abortions once the heartbeat of an unborn child is detectable, approximately six weeks into a pregnancy. This life-saving legislation includes exceptions in cases of rape, incest, medical emergency, or fatal fetal anomaly.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey issued the following statement:

“A heartbeat clearly indicates life. Today, Senate Republicans kept their promises and stood up for life in South Carolina. All children with a beating heart will soon be protected in this State. South Carolina will not be the abortion capital of the Southeast.”

Senator Larry Grooms, who authored the bill, added:

“There is no greater right than the right to life. Government’s primary purpose is to protect life. Every abortion takes a life. I am delighted that South Carolina will now join fourteen other states in protecting life once a heartbeat is detected.”

This bill is headed to the Governor for his signature.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Keep Political Activism Out of the Classroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2023

SENATE REPUBLICANS KEEP POLITICAL ACTIVISM OUT OF THE CLASSROOM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, Senate Republicans passed H. 3728, the Transparency and Integrity in Education Act. The bill protects students from political indoctrination by identifying certain concepts which must not be included in classroom instruction. According to the bill, no student may be taught that one race is inherently superior to another race or that members of one race bear responsibility for the actions committed in the past by members of the same race.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey celebrated the bill’s passage: “The citizens of South Carolina do not want political activism in the classroom. H. 3728 keeps the subjective opinions of those who want to rewrite American History from creeping into South Carolina’s schools.”

The bill encourages fact-based discussions of history. “I want students to learn about Jim Crow,” Senator Massey added. “I want them to learn about slavery. I want them to learn about the holocaust. I don’t want them to be blamed for those things.”

Republicans are committed to fighting for truth and transparency in education. This legislation requires that all instructional materials be made known to parents and available for review. “This is the year of parental rights, and today the Senate took a giant step toward eliminating classroom secrecy,” said Senator Larry Grooms, a member of the Senate Education Committee. “Parents have a right to know what is being taught in their child’s classroom, and today Republicans enshrined that right into law.”

H. 3728 returns to the House for concurrence and then to the Governor’s desk.

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PRESS RELEASE: South Carolina Senate Doubles Down on Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2023

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE SENATE DOUBLES DOWN ON EDUCATION

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, Senate Republicans passed S. 285, the Academic Choice in Education (ACE) act. The bill permits nonprofit scholarship funding organizations to issue scholarships for qualifying students to cover the educational expenses associated with attending a private school or home school program. Taxpayers may claim contributions to funding organizations against their tax liability.

Senate Republicans today kept their promises to students and taxpayers by passing another major school-choice initiative. The Academic Choice in Education act will fund school choice for thousands of South Carolina students at no cost to the State while reducing burdens on taxpayers.

Senator Tom Davis, who authored the bill stated: “When providers have to compete and consumers are given a choice, the result is a better service at a lower cost. The State’s education system lacks the benefit of this market principle, and today the Senate fixed that.”

Students in public schools, including disadvantaged and exceptional needs children, as well as children in home school programs, are eligible to receive scholarship funding. “South Carolina’s children deserve a robust educational system with options: public, private, parochial, and home schools,” said Senator Sean Bennett, chairman of the subcommittee who heard public testimony on the bill. “Today, the Senate added to State’s toolbox another choice for students and families.”

Majority Leader Shane Massey made clear at the start of the legislative session that education reform is the number one priority for the Senate Republican Caucus. The passage of the ACE act comes on the heels of S. 39, adopted in February, which creates trust funds for low-income families to cover costs associated with sending students to the school of their choice.

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SENATE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2023

SENATE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the South Carolina Senate Finance Constitutional Subcommittee investigating the Comptroller General, Richard Eckstrom, issued a final report on the findings of the investigation. The Subcommittee, consisting of Senators Grooms (Ch.), McElveen, Fanning, Goldfinch, and Young, unanimously adopted the report on Tuesday.

The report details the extensive investigation and concludes:

It is the collective opinion of the Subcommittee that:

Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom has repeatedly demonstrated his inability to perform statutory duties of the office to which he was elected;
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom should be relieved of his duties to his office;
The General Assembly begin proceedings to remove Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom from office “for willful neglect of duty or other reasonable cause, which shall not be sufficient ground of impeachment” pursuant to Title XV Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina;
The responsibilities of the Office of the Comptroller General be transferred to other appropriate offices of the State;
The Senate Finance Committee recommend which offices of the State receive those responsibilities;
The General Assembly advance an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina, to remove the Comptroller General as an elected office.*

Subcommittee Chairman Larry Grooms added, “When it comes to reporting the State’s finances, the buck stops with the Comptroller General. Today, this investigative subcommittee delivered the accountability that the people of South Carolina deserve. I ask the Comptroller General to resign.”

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PRESS RELEASE: South Carolina Senate Passes Heartbeat Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2023

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SHANE MASSEY RELEASES STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF HEARTBEAT BILL

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the State Senate passed S. 474, a bill to prohibit the performance of abortions at the point the heartbeat of an unborn child is detectable, approximately six weeks into a pregnancy. This important legislation includes exceptions in cases of rape, incest, medical emergency, or fatal fetal anomaly.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey issued the following statement:

“Just last month, the Supreme Court of South Carolina issued a decision to strike down the strongest pro-life bill ever passed by the General Assembly, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act of 2021.

As a consequence, abortion is now legal in South Carolina through five months of pregnancy. While neighboring states have responded to the Dobbs decision with strong pro-life laws, South Carolina is becoming an abortion destination. In January, over one thousand abortions were performed inside the State, putting South Carolina on a trajectory to more than double its annual abortion numbers.

Fortunately, the State Senate adopted S. 474 today. This bill prohibits abortions at the point an unborn child’s heartbeat is detectable. Senate Republicans took time to read the opinions offered by the justices, and this bill incorporates our responses to the concerns they raised. I am confident that we have constructed this bill in such a manner that protects the unborn and withstands constitutional scrutiny.

I pray the South Carolina House of Representatives passes this bill quickly to help save thousands of lives in our State.”

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Senate Republicans Lead Fight To Protect Life And Pass South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection From Abortion Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 28, 2021

Legislation Clears Senate, Now Moves To The House of Representatives

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today the South Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 1, known as the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection From Abortion Act. The legislation passed the Senate by a 30-13 vote and will be referred to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Heartbeat Bill is one of the most significant pieces of pro-life legislation to pass the Senate. If signed into law, it would ban abortions in South Carolina at the time in which a heartbeat is detectable, effectively bringing legal abortions down from twenty (20) weeks to just six to eight (6-8) weeks. The bill as passed includes exceptions for pregnancies as the result of rape, incest, or a medical emergency to protect the life of the mother. An allegation of rape or incest must be reported to the sheriff in the county in which the abortion was performed, no later than twenty-four hours after performing or inducing an abortion.

Quotables:

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey says, “Passing this bill has been a priority since day one. South Carolina sent thirty Republicans to the State Senate for a reason and this is one of the bills we hear of most often. Passage of the Heartbeat Bill will save thousands of innocent pre-born lives in our state, and strikes an appropriate balance that we feel will stand up to Court scrutiny. It has taken a lot of hard work and coordinated teamwork to get this bill across the finish line, and I’m pleased to see the bill pass with an overwhelming vote and now move to the House for a vote.”

Bill sponsor Senator Larry Grooms says, “Life is the most precious right we have. Government’s primary duty is to protect the fundamental right to life. Without life, no other rights really matter. We know that a heartbeat is the most universal and most recognizable sign of life. There is no denying the fact that when you end a heartbeat, you end a life. The Heartbeat Bill respects this fundamental right and I’m pleased to see it pass the Senate today.”

Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Danny Verdin says, “Life won in the South Carolina Senate today. The rights of the unborn deserve protection under the law. No symbol of life is stronger than a beating heart, and the Heartbeat Bill ensures that when a baby’s heart is beating, the government will not sanction that life to be taken. The Medical Affairs Committee took hundreds of hours of testimony on the matter and heard from hundreds of constituents from all across South Carolina. The members of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee have worked diligently and respectfully to those testifying and colleagues of the committee throughout this process.”

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Senate Republicans Introduce Teacher Appreciation Bill

Two Dozen Senators Co-Sponsor Legislation To Say THANK YOU To Teachers in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Twenty-four Senate Republicans have signed on to new legislation to allow teachers in South Carolina to exchange unused leave days for credit in a Teacher Appreciation Account. The primary sponsor of Senate Bill 888, Senator Greg Hembree highlights the features of the bill which will benefit the students in the classroom, and say Thank You to the teachers for the dedication they give in the classroom.

“It’s some of the most important work and the hardest work to find a way to give every child in South Carolina an opportunity to receive a world-class education…It’s a hard goal to reach…but there are victories,” Senator Greg Hembree said. “There are great people out there doing God’s work in this field and it is worth taking the time to celebrate them from time-to-time.”

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Watch the full introductory remarks here

Senator Richard Cash Introduces First Bill in State Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER 7, 2017

Contact: Reagan C. Kelley

reagankelley@scsenate.gov

803-212-6332

SENATOR RICHARD CASH INTRODUCES FIRST BILL IN STATE SENATE

Legislation Aims to Provide Safety Procedures for All Churchgoers

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Senator Richard Cash, R-Anderson, today prefiled his first legislation since joining the South Carolina Senate in May 2017. The proposal, Senate Bill 769 would permit a concealed weapon permit holder to carry a concealable weapon on school property that is leased by a church for church services.

Under the new proposal, the permit holder must receive express permission from the appropriate church official or governing body, and only applies during the times which the church has the use, pursuant to its lease with the school.

“Many churches now have security teams, so it is not unusual for someone with a concealed weapons permit who is approved by the church to be carrying,” Senator Richard Cash said. “Current law, however, prohibits carrying a concealed weapon on school property. This change would allow churches that lease school facilities to provide for the security of their members as them deem necessary “

Richard Cash was elected to the South Carolina Senate during the Special Election, on May 30, 2017 to fulfill the unexpired term of Kevin L. Bryant, who assumed Office of Lt. Governor. Senator Richard Cash is the resident senator for District 3, representing portions of Anderson County.

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