Staff reports | The S.C. House voted 92-16 Wednesday to pass an alternative fuel tax credit to cover costs for more charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EV). The measure, House Bill 3824, now is in the Senate Finance Committee.
Current state law limits the tax credit to economic development investments in natural gas and propane fueling infrastructure. By extending that credit to EV charging infrastructure, advocates say the bill would increase the rate of charging deployment and private capital investments by business and residents.
Additionally, having more EV charging infrastructure likely would lead to more EV investments and jobs because of South Carolina’s leading role in making the vehicles as well as the increasing demand for electric vehicles at home and abroad.
In other recent headlines:
S.C. Republicans continue to push for teaching restrictions on race. State senators voted 27-10 this week to restrict how teachers discuss race in public school classrooms. According to South Carolina Public Radio, the measure would prevent teachers from explaining that a person “‘bears responsibility for actions committed in the past’ by other members of their race, and that someone is inherently privileged or should receive ‘adverse or favorable treatment’ due to their race.”
Lawmakers pass bill providing parental leave for teachers, school employees. A bill that would guarantee paid parental leave for public school teachers in South Carolina when they welcome a new child via birth, adoption or fostering passed through the Statehouse and will soon reach the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
S.C. Senate panel advances penalties for illegal guns. A state Senate panel approved increased penalties for the illegal possession of firearms, one of Gov. Henry McMaster’s highest priorities, by attaching two different bills — one with near universal support and the other highly controversial.
S.C. House agrees to larger state worker raises. The S.C. House voted Tuesday to increase the raises it wants to give to nearly every state employee.
Bill aiming to strengthen DUI laws passes. A new bill would temporarily impose an ignition interlock requirement on all first convictions for DUI and pre-convictions. Under current law, ignition interlock is required for convictions with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit.
Kimpson says goodbye to state Senate. State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, left a parting gift to fellow members of the Statehouse: a cardboard cutout of himself. He’s resigning to take a job on President Joe Biden’s advisory committee for trade policy and negotiations.
City Paper announces Best of Charleston 2023. The Charleston City Paper today published a massive list of more than 400 winners of its annual contest of readers’ choices of the best of Charleston — from restaurants and bars to shops, services, personalities and more. Check out the issue today. Click the image in the story to open the full winners’ lists and descriptions.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!