COLUMBIA, SC — The South Carolina Senate on Tuesday, January 8, held the first legislative session of the new year 2019. As tradition, the first day of the new legislative session — the 123rd legislative session of the General Assembly — the Senate holds an organizational session to elect leadership, officers of the Senate, select committees and seat assignments.

Listed below are the current leadership and committee chairs for the 123rd Senate.

President of the Senate: Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee)

Majority Leader: Shane Massey (R-Edgefield)

Agriculture and Natural Resources: Paul Campbell (R-Berkeley)

Banking and Insurance: Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry)

Corrections and Penology: Shane Martin (R-Spartanburg)

Education: Greg Hembree (R-Horry)

Ethics: Sean Bennett (R-Dorchester)

Family and Veterans Services: Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington)

Finance: Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence)

Fish, Game and Forestry: Chip Campsen (R-Charleston)

Judiciary: Luke Rankin (R-Horry)

Labor, Commerce and Industry: Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee)

Legislative Oversight: Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee)

Medical Affairs: Danny Verdin (R-Laurens)

Rules: Shane Massey (R-Edgefield)

Transportation: Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley)

Included in leadership changes were Senator Harvey Peeler who unanimously selected by the full Senate body to serve as the first elected ‘President of the Senate’ in the history of South Carolina.

“Thank you for this high honor. I wish I could capture the words to express what this means to me. To be chosen the very first President and Presiding Officer of the Senate from within the membership of the body is both historic and futuristic…It’s been said that a Body takes on the personality of its Leader. If that is true – if this body takes on the personality of its Leader – Then we will laugh a lot. We will cry a little. And we will love and respect each member and this institution — every day for the rest of our lives…Members of the Senate – we are standing on Holy Ground. There are Angels all around. And I expect us to act accordingly. Now, we have work to do. You chose me to be your leader. And so help me God — lead you I will!” ~Senator Harvey Peeler, 1/8/19 

View Senator Peeler’s full remarks to the Senate HERE. 

Additionally, Senator Greg Hembree (R-Horry) will serve as the new Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Senator Greg Hembree said,

“Providing the opportunity for a world class education to every citizen is one of the most important functions of state government and it is critical time for education in South Carolina. I am honored, excited and ready to serve as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

We have a committee comprised of smart, hardworking men and women that are determined to make real improvements in K-12 and higher education. Improving working conditions and raising salaries for teachers, recruiting and retaining high quality educators and leaders, and reigning in the ever rising costs of higher education are goals we can achieve in 2019. Our committee is getting to work immediately.”

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 COLUMBIA, SC — The South Carolina Senate today passed, by a 37-4 vote, a balanced, focused, responsible $8.2 billion state appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 that addresses the most critical needs for the people of South Carolina including substantial new investments in education opportunities, adds accountability measures for state agencies and allows the Public Service Commission to provide relief to electric customers resulting from the federal tax program.

FY18-19 Budget Inclusions

Analysis of Teachers Duties – An amendment authored by Senator Greg Hembree, R-Horry, seeks to relieve teachers of burdensome tasks that interfere with their ability to teach. The budget proviso requires the Department of Education to conduct a bottom-up analysis of the tasks of teachers in South Carolina to determine what duties placed on teachers are unnecessary or may be consolidated to other functions, or be performed by another staff position.

“Our teachers are asked to do a lot, and I hear of administrative duties required of teachers outside class education. We must get back-to-the-basics in providing a high-quality education for students in the classroom,” Senator Greg Hembree says. “This budget proviso puts us on the right path forward to see that our teachers able to focus on what we ask them to do…teach our children.”

Tuition Transparency – The tuition transparency amendment requires public universities to post where and for what purpose tuition goes to that exceeds the amount required to classroom costs for a program so students know exactly what their tuition goes to fund.

Saying Thanks To Teachers – A teacher can make one of the greatest impacts on a child’s life. The Senate budget recognizes the dedication that teachers give in the classroom by providing adding an additional $2,000 to the starting salary of a K-12 teacher in the public system, a 1% raise and complete funding of step increases.

Retiring Rolling Firebombs – Outdated, dangerous school buses have jeopardizes the safety of our children for far too long. The Senate budget rids our school districts of these “rolling fire bombs” and the danger they present our students.

The Senate budget includes over a $10 million increase for Need Based grants for Higher Education, the largest increase since the FY1999-2000 budget. The House version of the budget provided a $0 increase.

Senator Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, the acting-Chairman of the Senate Education Committee said the Senate version of the budget is a step in the right direction for children, teachers and parents in education.

“This year’s budget is a positive step forward for education opportunities in South Carolina,” Senator Harvey Peeler says. “I want to commend the Senate for taking responsible steps forward in prioritizing the critical needs of education and the importance of our teachers, parental involvement and students’ ability to learn in the classroom.”

Responding To Our First Responders —  Our state has been impacted by several natural disasters in the last few years. We thank our law enforcement, DNR and other first responders who gave assistance during these tragedies. The FY18-19 budget includes additional salary to those responders who assist in preventing the spread of forest fires. The Senate additional made a impactful investment to provide for additional SLED agents to reduce case loads, trooper pay, Department of Corrections officer pay increase, community specialists for the Department of Juvenile Justice and providing the needed resources to see that our officers are trained and protected in the growing concern of mental health situations and PTSD therapy.

Opioid Prevention Assistance – The opioid epidemic is ripping apart families and communities nationwide, and our state is not immune from it’s impacts. We are committed to stopping abuse of dangerous controlled substances. This year’s budget includes an additional $11M for opioid abuse prevention and treatment programs.

Ratepayers First — The Senate also passed an amendment to have the Public Service Commission order regulated utilities to pass along the full tax benefits received form the Trump Administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act wholly to electric customers.

“We don’t need to try to fool customers about reductions in rates resulting from an Act passed by Congress,” Senator Shane Massey said. “By estimates, these utilities will receive large amounts in tax relief under the federal tax plan. We, in the Senate, believe those benefits ought to go directly to customers to provide immediate rate relief.”

Respecting The Rule of Law — The protection of rule of law and legitimacy of our immigration system must be protected. The Senate sent a strong message of protecting the rule of law in an amendment by Senator William Timmons, R-Greenville, by providing that SLED shall ensure the accuracy and compliance of the Immigration Compliance Report, a list of county and municipal governments, to meet federal and state laws relating to unlawful persons in the United States.

Those Who Serve Our State — Our state employees at the front line are crucial to seeing that the everyday services provided to South Carolinians reliable, efficient and and with a friendly face. The Senate budget recognizes the importance of those who have chosen to serve the state by providing a $500 bonus to state employees who have been employed at least six months and make less than $50,000.

Putting South Carolina Back To Work — Our economy is strong and workforce is growing. We want to see that working South Carolinians are lifted out of poverty and have the opportunities to better their lives and provide for their families. The Senate budget ensures that SNAP benefits are available and accessible to those who truly need them.

The FY18-19 General Fund appropriations bill now heads to the House for consideration.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SENATE’S RESPONSIBLE BUDGET PLAN? TELL US HERE.

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 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE : February 26 – March 2, 2018

On The Floor:

POULTRY PROTECTION — Currently, South Carolina has some of the most stringent regulations for poultry operations in the Southeast. We stand with our farmers — which is why the Senate passed H.3929 this week to reduce the regulatory barriers on poultry suppliers, creating a better farm-friendly environment. The future of agribusiness is bright under this new bill that now heads to the governor’s desk for signature.

THANKING OUR TEACHERS — Senate Republicans know that a quality teacher in the classroom has a big impact on students’ ability to succeed. This week the Senate passed S.888, a Senate Republican initiative to say “thank you” to our teachers who make a positive impact on our students by creating a new Teacher Appreciation Account. The new accounts allow for certain public school faculty members annually to receive additional compensation for unused annual leave and sick leave. This recognizes the important work of our teachers, provides better benefit to students who have their primary teacher remain in the classroom, and does it all without a tax increase.

MORE JOBS, BETTER POLICY — The Senate last year pass S.105, commonly referred to as the “automatic stay” bill to provide better protection to capital projects which experienced unwarranted delays that stalled job creation and resulted in high costs on the taxpayers. We’re a business-friendly state, but we also place a high-importance on our state’s natural resources. This bill strikes the right balance in protecting our state’s valuable resources and reforming the appeal process to see that legitimate, well-founded project complaints are heard in a timely manner — not used as a hold-hostage tool. This week the House joined the Senate in passing this important bill. It now heads to the governor’s desk for signature. Read more here: https://www.scsenategop.com/2018/03/01/automatic-stay-heads-to-governor/

UNIFORMITY FOR THE FLAG — South Carolina’s Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon as symbolized on the state flag is one of the most recognizable symbols in the United States. However, a numbering of varying make up of the flag exists. The Senate passed a resolution to create the State Flag Study Committee tasked with studying and proposing an official, uniform design for the state flag based on historically accurate details and legislative adoptions.  Membership of the committee shall be 5 members to include the Directors of the Departments of Archives and History, and the Administration.  One member appointed by the President Pro Tempore, One member by the Speaker of the House and One member appointed by the Governor.

CARRYING OUT JUSTICE — The people of South Carolina have made their support for the death penalty of persons convicted of a capital crime clear. South Carolina’s ability to carry out justice in the law has been limited by the inability to receive the lethal injection drugs needed to carry out a sentence. The Senate has set to special order status, S.872 — which will change the default execution method to electrocution and only allows an election of lethal injection if the drugs are available. Those on the state’s death row the ability, in current law, to select either lethal injection or electrocution. That selection will still exist under the proposed bill, but allows the Department another mechanism to carry out a court ordered sentence if the lethal injection drugs are not available.

In District:

DEEPEST IN THE SOUTHEAST — This week the South Carolina Ports Authority hosted a “groundbreaking ceremony for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. Our state’s port is the most valuable asset to economic development in South Carolina, a primary contributor to our leading the nation in tire production, headquarters for Boeing, Volvo and more. A true partnership of local, state and federal leaders, the deepening of the Port of Charleston to 52 means more jobs and continued economic development success for many years to come. Upon completion, the Port of Charleston will be the deepest port on the U.S. East Coast and will provide 24 hour access with no tide restriction.

IDs NOW AVAILABLE — The S.C. DMV this week announced the availability of Real ID compliant licenses. Last year the General Assembly met compliance with the Federal REAL ID Act ensuring the South Carolina citizens have the option to obtain a REAL ID compliant license. Compliance means South Carolina driver’s licenses will be recognized as adequate identification for individuals who wish to board commercial airlines, access military bases and other federal facilities. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2zDGTmg.

RATEPAYERS FIRST — In case you missed it, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey recently joined Senator Ronnie Sabb and Charles Bierbauer to discuss all the latest news on V.C. Summer, the proposed merger between Dominion and SCANA and why it’s important to keep Ratepayers First. Watch the full episode of This Week in South Carolina here: http://video.scetv.org/video/3009792571/

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE : January 22-26, 2018

On The Floor:

PROTECTION FOR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES — This week under the dome, the Senate set H.3653 for priority special order status. This bill limits the reach of nuisance lawsuits against existing manufacturing, transportation and warehouse facilities. With more than 5,000 facilities in the state, approximately 11% of the state’s workforce is linked to the manufacturing industry. This bill provides protection for these facilities that operate in compliance with federal, state and local laws; and meet compliance with environmental permits.

A STRONG STATE — The tradition of the Governor’s Address to the South Carolina General Assembly dates back more than a century. This week, Governor Henry McMaster offered his first State of the State Address to the General Assembly laying out his agenda on issues of education, ethics reform, taxes, the opioid epidemic and more. You can watch the full address HERE or read the full text HERE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW SESSION — Republican Senator Greg Hembree joined Charles Bierbauer and Senator Thomas McElveen to discuss the upcoming topics of this year’s legislative session. The full interview is available to watch HERE.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE : January 23 – February 3, 2017

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU — We believe that two-way communication is vital to the foundation of representative government. Thomas Jefferson observed that the government closest to the people is one that serves them best. We want to hear what issues are most important to you — take the SC Senate Republican Caucus survey today!

On The Floor:

MOPED SAFETY ACT — Mopeds can create dangerous environments for motorists traveling every day. This week the Senate gave passed S.197 that requires moped be registered and licensed. It also restricts operation of mopeds on a road with a speed limit posted greater than 55 mph. Senator Greg Hembree explains in this video what has been three years of work on moped safety legislation that will save motorist lives if passed by the House and signed by the governor.

CONSISTENT, QUALIFIED LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT — One of Governor Haley’s key initiatives in her most recent State of the State Address was having the governor appoint the Superintendent of Education. Likewise, Governor McMaster supports the need for clear accountability of statewide education policy. The Senate passed S.27, one of the steps in making the Superintendent of Education truly a cabinet agency by setting specific qualifications of the superintendent — currently there are no education related requirements of the office. The Senate version of this bill requires a master’s degree and broad-based experience in the public education field or operation and financial management. Candidates would be screened, and would require advice and consent of the Senate prior to approval. If approved, the measure would go to a ballot referendum for the voters approval during the 2018 General Election.

NEW JUDGES IN SOUTH CAROLINA — The General Assembly held judicial elections for 8 court vacancies on Wednesday. The Senate and the House meet in a joint session to consider judicial races. The following seats were filled from the session:

• Supreme Court, Seat 5: George C. James Jr., Sumter.
• Court of Appeals, Seat 9: David Garrison (Gary) Hill, Greenville.
• Circuit Court 7^th Judicial Circuit, Seat 2: Grace Gilchrist Knie, Campobello.
• Circuit Court At-Large, Seat 1: George Marion McFaddin Jr., Gable.
• Family Court 8^th Judicial Circuit, Seat 2: Mindy Westbrook Zimmerman, Newberry.
• Family Court At-Large Seat 7: Thomas (Tommy) Tredway Hodges, Greenville.
• Family Court At-Large, Seat 8: Rosalyn W. Frierson, Columbia.
• Administrative Law Court, Seat 2: Milton G. Kimpson, Columbia.

IRS TAX CONFORMITY — Every year the General Assembly addresses federal changes to the tax code and conforms South Carolina’s tax code to reflect the federal changes. The Senate approved the annual conformity and sent it to the House.

COMMEMORATING A TIGER CHAMPIONSHIP — The Senate has taken the first step to allow drivers commemorate Clemson University’s 2016 National Championship victory by placing a special license plate to their vehicle. The bill, proposed by Senator Harvey Peeler and other members of the “Senate Clemson Caucus” allows the SCDMV issue special license tags for South Carolina vehicles.

PROTECTING PRISONS FROM THE AIR — 2.5 million aerial drones were commercially sold last year and 7 million may be sold in 2017. While drones have value to law abiding citizens who use them every day, the threat to our prison system is a serious concern. The Senate gave a 43-0 second reading vote to a bipartisan, pro-law enforcement measure that limits the range a drone can fly within a correctional facility and detention center. Senator Katrina Shealy recently wrote an article in The State Newspaper that addresses the proactive 21^st century legislation.

HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR — The Senate welcomed a great South Carolinian and recognized the accomplishments of Major Robert “Bob” Wilson Sr. for our state. Major Wilson was awarded the Order of the Palmetto — our state’s the highest civilian honor for service. He is a Silver Star recipient who served in WWII and the Korean Conflict, as well as being a fine artist with a number of paintings in the State House. Read more about the honor here.

In Committee:

COMMITTEE CHANGES — A number of committee changes occurred this week as a result of former Republican Senator Kevin Bryant’s ascension to the Lieutenant Governor position. Senator Katrina Shealy is now the Chairwoman of the Senate General Committee primarily involved in the Department of Social Services legislation, as well as the refugee program. Senator Greg Hembree moved from the Senate Judiciary Committee to the Senate Finance Committee — giving an Horry Country resident Senator representation for the first time since 2012, as well as moving from the Senate General Committee to Agriculture and Natural Resources. Additionally Senators Tom Corbin and Mike Gambrell have switched committee membership from General Committee to Fish, Game and Forestry respectively.

STATE OF THE SCDOT — The Senate Transportation Committee chaired by Senator Larry Grooms met Thursday, February 1, to hear the State of the SC Department of Transportation from Secretary Christy Hall. The Committee heard testimony on the critical infrastructure needs of South Carolina and solutions to better our state’s roads.

BEACH RENOURISHMENT — Chairman of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee Harvey Peeler held a meeting on Tuesday, January 31, requesting input from stakeholders on how to address the issue of preserving our beaches. Senators Greg Hembree and Luke Rankin offered testimony on status of the state’s coastline and importance of the beaches for state tourism.

DSS OVERSIGHT — The Senate General DSS Oversight Subcommittee convened Thursday, February 1, to hear an update from the Department of Social Services Director Susan Alford and other child services representatives. DSS provided a status of the child support system. The DSS Oversight Subcommittee is chaired by Senator Tom Young. The Committee has added three new members: Senators Wes Climer, Scott Talley and Rex Rice.

Around The State:

UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 16 YEAR LOW — The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce announced South Carolina’s jobless rate falling to 4.3%, the lowest unemployment level since 2001. This is great news for growing state, and hopefully just the beginning of what’s to come.

NEW JOBS FOR DORCHESTER COUNTY — KION North America, one of the world’s largest makers of forklifts, pallet jacks and other industrial trucks, announced a $5.7 million investment to expand operations in Summerville creating 50 new jobs. Read more about the expansion here.

PARENTS KNOW BEST — Educators, parents, and legislatures from all over the United States celebrated National School Week from January 23-27. High-quality education has a tremendous impact on our growing workforce. Educational opportunities should not depend on economic status or geography. Senator Larry Grooms shares the importance parents have on education in this video.

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