Staff reports | State lawmakers filed more than 500 new bills this week in preparation for the beginning of the new legislative session next month.
This week, we offer a look at the 198 pre-filed bills by state senators on subjects ranging from appointing constitutional officers to alimony reform.
- To look at all of the pre-filed bills in the Senate, click here.
Next week, we’ll offer a look at the major bills of 358 pre-filed by state House members. (These bills, introduced Thursday, were just too numerous for us to review this week.)
- If you want to go through this massive list now and see all of the bills pre-filed in the House, click here.
[NOTE TO NEW READERS: During the legislative session, Statehouse Report offers short summaries each week of major new bills introduced by state lawmakers. If you want to keep up with progress on any of these bills, you can use the General Assembly’s online legislation page as a monitoring tool. There’s even a legislative tracking tool that alerts you to changes by email.]
IN THE SENATE
Here are the major Senate bills introduced Dec. 13:
Animal care. S. 3 (Rankin) seeks to allow custodians of animals taken into custody to petition a court for expenses from the owner, with several provisions.
Dams. S. 4 (Scott) seeks a resolution to direct DHEC to set up a revolving fund to operate a financial assistance program for grants to dam owners. S. 5 (Shealy) seeks a requirement for DHEC to inspect all dams crossing any highway.
Conservation Bank. S. 7 (Campsen) seeks reauthorization of the S.C. Conservation Bank.
Hurricane mitigation. S. 11 (Davis) seeks the state’s hurricane damage mitigation program to be expanded to cover flood damage.
Tough on crime. S. 20 (Campsen) seeks to bar probation from any violent criminal or thief who if they commit an offense after already being on probation.
Wetlands restoration. S. 23 (Campsen) seeks to allow certain wetlands impoundments to be repaired or restored.
Constitutional officers. S. 27 (Campsen) seeks to change the state superintendent of education from an elected position to one appointed by the governor. S. 129 (Campsen) seeks to make the Secretary of State an appointed position. S. 137 (Campsen) seeks the superintendent of education to be an appointed position. S. 139 (Campsen) seeks the comptroller general to be an appointed position. S. 140 (Campsen) seeks the commissioner of agriculture to be an appointed position.
Personal finance requirement. S. 30 (Rankin) seeks to require high school students to take a half-credit course in personal finance to be able to graduate.
Bus belts. S. 32 (McLeod) seeks to require school buses to have lap-shoulder belts, with several provisions.
Wireless buses. S. 33 (Malloy) seeks for all state school buses to have wireless networks on board. The measure seeks to require the General Assembly to fund the measure.
Consolidation. S. 36 (Young) seeks school districts of at least 2,500 students for them to get state money – a move that would require some consolidation.
Board of regents. S. 40 (Malloy) seeks to establish a state College and University Board of Regents and end the state Commission on Higher Education and state Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, with several provisions.
Gas tax. S. 54 (Bennett) seeks to raise the gas tax and other fees in phases to support highway infrastructure and economic development, with several provisions. S. 70 (Senn) calls for counties to be able to hold referenda for local option motor fuel user fees to pay for road improvements.
Alimony reform. S. 91 (Gregory) seeks a state public policy related to awarding of alimony in divorce cases. S. 92 (Gregory) seeks to shield earnings of a new spouse from alimony considerations related to an earlier divorce. S. 93 (Gregory) seeks two new forms of alimony, with other provisions. S. 94 (Gregory) seeks changes to rules regarding alimony when former spouses retire or other circumstances change, with other provisions.
Term limits. S. 102 (McLeod) seeks term limits of 12 years for House and Senate members in each chamber.
Next lieutenant governor. S. 107 (Campsen) would allow a governor to pick his lieutenant governor, with advice and consent of the Senate, with several other provisions, including a procedure for a joint ticket in gubernatorial elections.
Judicial elections. S. 108 (Campsen) would set Feb. 1 as the date for state judicial elections by the legislature, including a vacancy for Supreme Court.
Minimum wage. S. 141 (Scott) seeks a constitutional amendment for the state to impose a mandatory minimum wage, with several provisions. S. 142 (Scott) seeks a statewide referendum to determine whether voters want a minimum wage that is a dollar above the federal minimum wage. S. 188 (Scott) is related.
Two-year budget. S. 145 (McLeod) seeks a biennial state budget process.
Background checks. S. 159 (Malloy) seeks to have a 28-day waiting period for transfer of a gun following the start of a criminal background check, with other provisions.
Drug courts. S. 163 (Malloy) seeks establishment of drug courts statewide, with several provisions.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!