NEWS BRIEFS: One week to go in regular legislative session

Staff reports  |  With just three legislative days left in this year’s regular session of the General Assembly, the fate of two much-discussed bills remains unclear.

Senators have moved forward with measures to make hate crimes illegal and to reform Santee Cooper without selling the utility, but whether compromises with House versions of bills will be finished is up in the air, according to legislative insiders.

That won’t be the case with measures to allow gun owners to carry pistols in the open, as long as there are permits, or with authorization of firing squads as a choice for state executions. Both versions of the House and Senate measures are close enough that compromise is expected in the week ahead.  Gov. Henry McMaster also is expected to sign both. 

It looks like three other bills under consideration — family leave for state employees, election law reform and approval of use of marijuana to relieve suffering — may not be resolved by Thursday when the regular session ends.

In June, lawmakers will meet to finish the state’s $11 billion budget and consider any measures in conference committee.

In other recent news:

Senate passes open carry gun measure.  South Carolina senators on Thursday approved a bill 28-16 allowing people with concealed weapons permits to carry their guns in the open so long as they have required training and permit.  The bill now goes back to the S.C. House.  More:  Associated Press  |   SC Public Radio.

S.C. House OKs firing squads for executions. The last state-held execution was 10 years ago today. Executions were halted due to a lack of lethal injection drugs. While inmates could still choose the electric chair in the state, none opted to do so in that time period. Now after the House on Wednesday approved a bill to require inmates to choose between the electric chair or firing squad, the General Assembly is poised to send a bill soon to the governor, who is expected to sign it. More: AP News  |  The Post and Courier.

Hate crimes proposal survives Senate committee challenge.  Some Republican senators questioned the necessity of a hate crimes bill for South Carolina during a Senate committee hearing yesterday, but the bill passed 13-10 to head to the Senate floor. South Carolina remains one of just two states without a hate crimes law.  More: AP News  |  WTGS.

New state agencies extend reach of government in S.C.  Under Gov. Henry McMaster’s leadership, there has been the creation of three stand-alone agencies: departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Children’s Advocacy, and the Office of Resilience. The new agencies have a combined budget of $173 million.  More: The Nerve.

State lawmakers continue to review DJJ.  South Carolina lawmakers said they will continue to look into concerns highlighted by a Legislative Audit Council review of the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The report, released last month, claims staffing shortages at the state agency have led to an increase in violent incidents.  More: WSPA.

McMaster signs bill allowing S.C. athletes to profit from likeness.  South Carolina college athletes will soon be able to profit from their own brands, joining more than 20 states with similar measures.  More: The Post and Courier.

S.C. not on track to meet Biden vaccination goal, DHEC says. South Carolina health officials said Wednesday the state is not on track to achieve the Biden administration’s goal of 70 percent of the population being vaccinated with one of three coronavirus vaccines by July 1.  More: WBTW.