thomas alexander Archives - SC Senate Republican Caucus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2025

SENATE REPUBLICANS DELIVER REAL RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Thursday, Republican Senators delivered a major victory for small businesses and passed a bill to fix South Carolina’s broken lawsuit system, despite anti-business pushback from the Left and Democrats.

“For too long, unfair tort laws have hurt our State’s small businesses and families,” said Senate President Thomas Alexander. “Senate Bill 244 delivers the real reform South Carolinians are asking for, brings fairness back to our civil justice system, and keeps our State competitive.”

S. 244 closes a loophole in current law that forces businesses like trucking and logging companies, restaurants, and others to pay for someone else’s wrongdoing if those businesses contributed just 1% of fault.

“Senate Republicans worked hard to fix South Carolina’s lawsuit system,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, author of the legislation. “It’s common sense that you should pay for the damage you cause, but not for the damage somebody else causes. We hope the House will take up this comprehensive bill immediately.”

Nearly 88% of Republican voters support tort reform, and earlier this month, hundreds of hardworking South Carolinians swarmed the Statehouse to rally with Senators and the Governor for tort reform legislation.

Senate bill 244 protects bars and restaurants from unfair lawsuits, requires alcohol server training, reduces liquor liability insurance requirements, closes loopholes that threaten homebuilders and healthcare workers, and incorporates free-market reforms to drive down skyrocketing insurance rates.

Thanks to Republican leadership, South Carolina remains open for business.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 26, 2025

SENATE REPUBLICANS PASS FENTANYL MURDER LEGISLATION

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Wednesday, Republican Senators passed a landmark bill to combat fentanyl-induced homicides in South Carolina.

“We listened to families grieving lost children and to law enforcement officers asking for help,” said Senate President Thomas Alexander, author of Senate bill 156. “Adding the crime of fentanyl-induced homicide will get criminals off our streets and keep more parents from experiencing the heartbreak that too many in Oconee County and throughout the State have known.”

President Alexander’s bill charges drug-dealers who dispense fentanyl and cause death with ‘fentanyl-induced homicide’, a felony punishable by up to thirty years in prison.

“Drugs are wreaking havoc throughout our communities,” added Senator Brian Adams, a retired police officer from Berkeley County. “Too often, kids are getting their hands on drugs secretly laced with fentanyl, and the consequences are devastating. Senate bill 156 ensures bad actors are thrown in jail.”

The legislation follows Act 72 of 2023 which requires mandatory prison time for anyone convicted of trafficking fentanyl in South Carolina.

The bill heads next to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Senate Republicans Deliver Real Relief for Small Businesses

Senate Republicans Pass Fentanyl Murder Legislation